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Original poster

Jacqueline Wilson book recs for 7yo please

16 replies

CocktailQueen · 15/08/2011 20:37

My dd has just read The Adventures of Tracy Beaker and wants to read more JW - can anyone recommend anything? A lot of her book's themes are a bit adult for dd. Or can anyone recommend any other similar authors?
Thanks!

OP posts:
kittensliveupstairs · 16/08/2011 08:11

I have to say JW is not my favourite author. DD is a voracious reader and discovered them around the same age.
I dislike them because every single one has one issue or other in it. Some are MH, some DV, some death. I like my DD to read something a tiney bit jollier.
My DD is hugely influenced by what she reads, she had Tracy Beaker and decided she wanted to go into care.
DD has read, JK Rowling, the worst witch, Princess Mirabelle and of course Roald Dahl. She loves Mr Dahl and enjoys the books more than the films.
Older stuff like five children and it, the secret garden and the phoenix and the carpet were also enjoyed.

fivegomadindorset · 16/08/2011 08:14

I hate her books with a passion. As above plus Enid Blyton. Go explore your local library.

cjbartlett · 16/08/2011 08:16

Dies she like the daisy meadowsFairy books? Or the Lucy Daniels books?

kittensliveupstairs · 16/08/2011 08:20

I think she's a bit old for the dross delights that are the formulaic fairy books.

senua · 16/08/2011 08:27

What Kittens and 5GMID said. I loathe JW and her ishoos.

DD liked the Lucy Daniels / Animal Ark series.

fivegomadindorset · 16/08/2011 08:30

Mallory towers, Alice in Wonderland.

fivegomadindorset · 16/08/2011 08:31

The Babysitters club books, Judy Blume.

Chopstheduck · 16/08/2011 08:33

hetty feather was dd's favourite at that age. It's different to most JW books, in that it is more history based and so seems a little less issue based, even though the themes are similar. There is a sequel to HF coming out soon too.

Mine started on Anne Fine at that age too. She has written some lovely girls books, and also Noel Streatfeild.

Shoutymomma · 16/08/2011 08:34

Those fairy books make me want to kill..... for someone to write one story and make a fortune off the 5000 spin offs makes me clench my teeth.

My eldest (dreamy, romantic girl) loves the stories I read as a child but found it easier to have them read to her (What Katy Did, etc). The 'old fashioned' language doesn't translate to the reading age, although they are emotionally appropriate. The Little House books were a fab compromise. Roald Dahl fulfilled her early need for something a little dark, then JK Rowling. Zizou Corder's Lion Boy is a cracker. I'm just waiting for the right moment to give her the amazing Northern Lights trilogy by Philip Pullman.

She decided for herself that she didn't like J Wilson books... I don't think she can relate to the deep stuff. That's what idyllic vilage life does to a child!!

fivegomadindorset · 16/08/2011 08:37

Lemony Snickett.

fivegomadindorset · 16/08/2011 08:43

The Sleepover Club

fivegomadindorset · 16/08/2011 08:44

Dick King -Smith

Original poster
CocktailQueen · 26/08/2011 20:50

Thanks all :) She's currently reading Michael Morpurgo books which I like a lot more. She really doesn't need to know about ishoos at her age imo but I don't want to stop her from reading things. Cheers :)

OP posts:
DeWe · 27/08/2011 21:27

Dd2 (age 7) loves JW. Don't really understand why as a lot of the issues she's covering are way out of her knowledge. I do try and look at them first since finding her reading one about anorexia and then saying she was fat (she's stick thin). Her favourite was Hetty Feather, but she also liked Candifloss too. Dd 1 doesn't like them at all.
I think the reason is dd2 likes "real life" stories whereas dd1 likes mystery/adventure/fantasy.
So dd2 reads a lot of biography story types like Little House, When Hitler stole Pink Rabbit (Judith Kerr) and other war time stories, she also likes the old fashioned GO stories that are being replublished.

aristocat · 02/09/2011 10:43

my DD is 7yo and she loves the Kitten club books by Sue Mongredien, she will read all 6 in one go Grin

there are a few JW DD has read again and again that are not so bad, they are Double Act, Cliffhanger, Lizzie Zipmouth. TBH there are so many excellent childrens books, it is good to have a mixture of authors isnt it?

cory · 10/09/2011 12:26

I had no problem with dd reading JW, I never noticed any adverse effects on her behaviour and it did help to open her eyes to the fact that other people might have difficult things going on in their life. We live in a leafier place than most of JWs heroines, but there are no issues in there that could not equally be happening- or in some cases have been happening- to dd's own classmates.

For the younger competent reader, I think the Lottie Project is a good JW story, not too grown-up but still enough reading in there.

Of course it is good to have a mixture of authors, but I think the best way to achieve that is to let them read more or less what they like and then gradually stick other books into their hands too.

And fwiw I dislike Dahl far more than JW because there is a nasty sneering tone in his works whereas JW seems to be teaching an understanding and compassionate outlook.

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