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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ban all things Jacqueline Wilson in my house

239 replies

Normalisavariantofcrazy · 05/12/2013 18:09

Off the back of the shit that is Tracey Beaker?

I've yet to hear positive things said about her books by any parent.

I'm happy to be convinced otherwise (although the kids are non plussed about her books)

OP posts:
Heartbrokenmum73 · 05/12/2013 18:27

Sparkly

No. Vampires are neither sparkly nor romantic. Vampires (proper ones) rip your throat out and kill you dead Grin

I love a good, scary, gory vampire book, me.

treas · 05/12/2013 18:28

Tunip made me Grin about banning Nesbitt - I do recall the Phoenix and the Carpet characters being right trouble makers with their lighting fireworks indoors.

Heartbrokenmum73 · 05/12/2013 18:29

And the kids in 'Five Children and It' and their infernal wishes. I remember being very Hmm at them turning the Lamb into an adult (I think).

MrsWeasley · 05/12/2013 18:29

I banned the Tracy Beaker TV show!

Heartbrokenmum73 · 05/12/2013 18:31

See, we loved the show as well. Especially 'Tracey Beaker Returns'. Me, DD and DS got very attached to the characters in that, especially Gus and Toby - we were gutted when Toby didn't come back after they kids were all made homeless Sad

DownstairsMixUp · 05/12/2013 18:31

I read the "Girls" series when I was a teen, Girls in love, girls under pressure etc. I really enjoyed them! Can't see any issues with the books and I remember them well.

bruffin · 05/12/2013 18:34

My dd loved JW books, she cried over a few but i cant see what harm it has done her. It certainly didn't affect her behaviour. She has turned a lovely kind caring teenager.

missinglalaland · 05/12/2013 18:34

My dd has read quite a few JW books. Overall, I am just glad that she is enjoying reading.

I do admit that after reading some of the books and watching Tracy Beaker on TV, we've had some strange interactions. Suddenly she is rude out of the blue or shouts (we aren't a shout-y house.) I thought...gee 7/8 is a little young for hormones! Then I realised she was trying things out that she had read/seen. She has never asked to discuss the topics in the books. So on balance, not the best influence on her. Perhaps her reading ability was beyond her maturity to deal with the story matter. I was ignorant about JW and just assumed they were suitable kids books.

I detest the sparkly rainbow fairy books.

Roald Dhal, Micheal Morpurgo and Sally Prue have all been better.

LaFataTurchina · 05/12/2013 18:36

I used to love Jacqueline Wilson books when I was aged about 9-13.

IMO she deals with sensitive issues in a very age appropriate way. I always found her characters and situations believable/relatable (had a modest but fairly conservative upbringing)

SpottyDottie · 05/12/2013 18:38

Another one here who cannot stand JW and its not because she can't write well, she does. It's the subject matter. I'd like my child's escapism into a book to be that...escapism. Not faced with real life dramas. And I don't agree that you could classMichael Morpurgo or Julia Donaldson with JW in the same sentence. They are all different authors with different styles. So it's seems we'll all have to agree to disagree.

Heartbrokenmum73 · 05/12/2013 18:38

Guess what DD is now watching on CBBC Grin

treas · 05/12/2013 18:38

On the banned list must add Judy Bloom, Sweet Valley High, David Walliams.

My children could not abide Michael Morpurgo's stories as they all seem so worthy.

Heartbrokenmum73 · 05/12/2013 18:40

I'd like my child's escapism into a book to be that...escapism. Not faced with real life dramas

Are you going to insist on this at secondary school too, when they need to read about real life? Talk about wrapping them up in cotton wool.

And btw, the majority of Michael Morpurgo's books are based around historical fact - so I hope you ban him as well.

SpottyDottie · 05/12/2013 18:40

Oh god! the rainbow fairy books!! It felt like the rainbow fairy books were all the same story but recycled with different fairies.I use to groan loudly when DD wanted one read to her for her bedtime story.

BertieBowtiesAreCool · 05/12/2013 18:41

I love her actually, I think she's great. I don't like Twilight at all. Can't see any correlation there.

The TV programmes are totally different and I think best for an older audience than they are actually aimed at. Also best if you've read the book(s) first. But I'd say that most of her books are for age 10+ really, except the ones aimed at younger children, like Cliffhanger.

The only one I'm really not keen on is one I've read about on here where the teenage protagonist falls in love with her teacher and then he "falls in love" back Hmm Hmm - that's a bit dodgy for me and I wouldn't want to encourage fantasies of that kind, plus it seems to glamourise grooming!! Shock

Heartbrokenmum73 · 05/12/2013 18:42

Not Judy Bloom treas - she was my go-to author in my mid-teens. Loved her books - especially the Fudge books. Agree with Sweet Valley High though - talk about sugary bullshit!

Favourite Michael Morpurgo (so far) is 'Kaspar the Prince of Cats'. What a great book - and the Titanic was in it to, so extremely tense waiting for that to happen!

CinnamonPorridge · 05/12/2013 18:42

We don't have JW books in the house, can't stand her.

Plenty of well written books out there, doesn't have to be JW.

Heartbrokenmum73 · 05/12/2013 18:43

Spotty - we managed the first six. DD was in Y1 and they were the first chapter books she read to me. After book six she said 'can we not read anymore of those? They're all the same'. I couldn't have been happier. I got a bit tired of reading 'she gasped' over and over...

BertieBowtiesAreCool · 05/12/2013 18:44

Judy Bloom is great but dated now, I think. At least I found them dated when I read them in the 00's (could still relate, though)

LaFataTurchina · 05/12/2013 18:45

Just while we're talking about books. I'm going to be controversial and say I hated the 'His Dark Materials' trilogy. - A combination of not thinking it was very well written and finding the subject matter upsetting.

SpottyDottie · 05/12/2013 18:46

Heartbroken calm down. I am allowed to not like an author and why.....I don't wrap anyone up in cotton wool, thanks. DD hasn't wanted to read any of JW books and not because I've said anything to her. I haven't. It's her choice. I've read quite enough books to help me decide who I do or don't like. but its personal choice. I just don't like JW, that's all. I do like David Walliams though Grin and of course, Roald Dahl who had many many naughty children or adults in his stories.

Heartbrokenmum73 · 05/12/2013 18:46

Bertie - did you read 'Forever'? That was my first encounter with sex in a book and the scene with them losing their virginity. I was very [shocked] to say the least.

Loving all these parents who won't 'allow' JW - it's not Mein Kampf ffs.

Seminyak · 05/12/2013 18:46

Aw I loved JW when I was a kid :) The Suitcase Kid in particular.

Was horrified when they turned Tracey Beaker into a tv show. Not as good as the book!!

SpottyDottie · 05/12/2013 18:47

Ha! Just seen your other post Heartbroken! We can agree on the Rainbow Fairy ones!

CorrieDale · 05/12/2013 18:47

Yabu. She's a funny empathic writer. Lots of different characters, lots of different plots. A world apart from the rainbow fairies! I love a bit of fantasy but I have no objection to the children learning that some children have bigger problems than learning 10 spellings a week. Having said that, neither of mine are into her yet but I won't censor them if they are. Like a previous poster, as long as it's not sex and violence, they can read what they want. I even tolerated the rainbow flipping fairies!

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