Let’s talk about the legend that brought us, Tracy “bog off” Beaker and how readers remember her books
[this is a snippet from my article on Medium for A Thousand Lives.]
When we talk about Jacqueline Wilson, we’re instantly thrown back to the days in our childhood and teen years where we’d devour her books hungrily. Long after we’d be told to turn off the lights, we’d still be reading, glued to the pages because she found a way to reach into our hearts with written words.
So it’s no wonder she’s sold over 40 million books. Thinking about Jacqueline Wilson is being reminded of Dustbin Baby, poor April who was left as a newborn in a bin, or of Lola Rose, where we see the realities and the fears that come with abuse and cancer. Vicky Angel, where the eponymous Vicky dies and we read about Jade’s grief, feel it as if it’s our own.
So what is it about Jacqueline Wilson that so appeals to younger readers and makes them continue to remember her stories, feeling their impact, long after the book’s end?
To answer the question, we’ll have to dive in and look at the themes in her novels, many of which speak to children and teens from various backgrounds and give others a chance to see life through the lens of someone else.
Continue reading on Medium . . .
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