As always, I love Jacqueline Wilson books even though I’m massively the other side of the age bracket, but it can’t be helped - these plucky youngsters putting themselves into difficult situations, learning and growing and coming out the other side. This was an interesting one in terms of a fractured family just trying to piece themselves back together (and apart), but the best bit was Wilson writing herself into the book in a slightly different form. Adorable!

This time, our girls are having to deal with boyfriends - whether that is trying to keep your distance from an ex, having a crush on an inappropriate individual, or having your first boyfriend. Some of it felt a bit nonsense, the extra bit about Anna staying out late didn’t quite fit the rest and had no further repurcussions, but I did like some of the themes - I felt for Ellie having to choose between boyfriend and friends, and treading that fine line between having fun and abiding by your family rules. Always a good read from Jacqueline Wilson.

Another Jacqueline Wilson adventure - at one point I was worried we were going down a really dark route with our two kids attempting to run away to London but thankfully they didn’t quite get there. Actually it was a really great way of reading and thinking about growing up and growing apart - it’s difficult to be separated from your best friend, but it can also broaden your horizons and make you see things differently. There were a LOT of cakes in it though, I felt sick just reading it.

Another fabulous Jacqueline Wilson book, I couldn’t really remember the first of this series very well, but it doesn’t matter, it doesn’t have a lot to do with it. The three friends this time are dealing with looks, appearance, modelling, food, and of course, self-esteem. It was quite obvious from the start where this story was going, but I thought it was so well done - the steps towards an eating disorder were taken so gradually that you felt the same as the protagonist all the way through. It surely wasn’t a big deal to do this, and she still had the common sense and it was all fine. Wasn’t it? Very well done.

This probably wasn’t my favourite Jacqueline Wilson’s books, but I’m conflicted by that. Wilson says she wrote the book after seeing a review from a politician who disliked a previous book where the kids in the family had different fathers. As if that matters? So I totally agree with Wilson’s reaction to write a book in which five kids have different fathers - none of that detracts from their family and actually adds quite a lot of interest and friendly rivalry.

Jacqueline Wilson is unquestionably a genius - she can write book after book that is compelling for young and old, brilliantly and perfectly capturing the emotions, confusion and fragility of being a kid in the big, bad world. This one was great because it had that extra twist of Mandy’s saviour new friend also being a bit of a rogue, then what do you do? It ended on a bit of a cliffhanger really, but that just leaves your own imagination to do the rest of the work.

Every time I read a Jacqueline Wilson book, I always start out wracked with guilt that I’m far too old to be reading them but then get sucked into the story and finish it up anyway. This one was aimed at slightly older readers, which was better, although it did mean the story took some dark turns here and there. The bit with the paint, goodness me!

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