r/JacquelineWilson

I've read almost every book written by Jacqueline Wilson as a child and I LOVED them. I grew up in a non-english speaking country, so I read the translated versions of the books, and I just couldn't get enough. My parents got a divorce right before I started school and the whole process was super messy, they both got new partners and kids almost immediately and I had to deal with a little bit of bullying in elementary school. So the whole "Jacqueline Wilson universe" was such a safe space for me. I can't recall any other book/TV-show/movie that would make me feel so seen and understood as a child. Has anyone else had that experience?? That's why I'm so curious to hear if anyone has ever met Jacqueline Wilson! What was it like?? Now that I'm an adult, I actually work in the TV industry with children content and Jacqueline Wilson has formed me so much. Like it sounds a little bit crazy, especially because her depictions of teenagers might've been a bit - boomer I guess? - but as I child I just loved everything she wrote and I honestly feel it's inspired me a great deal in my current work. Would love to meet her too one day and say thank you!

There is a pit in my chest. I didn’t see the ending coming until Opal and Morgan’s little seaside picnic but even so it hurt sm when I finally read it. I felt like their romance was very rushed and one dimensional but still, I don’t know why it hit me so hard. I think her father’s conclusion was even worse somehow, when they show us how he’s lost the ability to write lit devastated me. I sympathised with him inspite of the decision he took.
I was truly so happy things were turning around for Opal. The ending was so insanely bleak.

Also her mother has to be one of the worst from Jacky’s books 😭 She really seemed to hate Opal it was crazy.

In the scene where Sunset recalls how she first came to be gifted her first Wardrobe City dollhouse (it had been bought for a photoshoot showing her with newborn Sweetie), the photographer, Mark, tells her that it’s hers to keep, and calls her sweetie, saying she’s “a total sweetie” even when she thinks he’s gotten her name wrong. The next couple of lines say how little Sunset liked him so much that for months afterwards she played that they were living in the dollhouse together.

Sunset would’ve been about 5-6 at the time so she probably would’ve thought the world of anyone who was nice to her, but also IIRC, that tiny interaction they had about the dollhouse was the ONLY time he talked to her.

Basically, Sunset was already feeling so out of place in her own home that she formed a stronger attachment to an adult she knew for all of a day and who was nice to her one time than to her family.

Yeesh, Sunset deserved so much better.

I find it quite interesting how, in my opinion at least, three dimensional a lot of Jacky's adult characters are. I feel like where other childrens authors background adults, she actually fleshes them out quite well.

The mums and dads aren't one copied and pasted character, despite common traits eg single parents or teen parents, and it really adds to the realism for me. The variety of other secondary characters is good too, like glimpses into teachers' personalities, shop keepers' families, grandparents not all being one stereotypical old lady trope etc

Anyone agree/disagree?

I've just listened to Good Luck Babe by Chappell Roan and realised it goes so well with JW's Love Frankie. Has anybody else found a song that they heavily associate with one of JW's books?