Book info

• Title The Story of Tracy Beaker
• Author Jacqueline Wilson
• Year 1991
• Genre Childrens

'I'm Tracy Beaker. This is a book all about me. I'd read it if I were you. It's the most incredible dynamic heart-rending story. Honest.' Tracy is ten years old. She lives in a Children's Home but would like a real home one day, with a real family. Meet Tracy, follow her story and share her hopes for the future in this beautifully observed, touching and often very funny tale, all told in Tracy's own words.

Thoughts

I read this a) because it’s on the reading list and b) because I needed something very light and fluffy after the epic novel The Stand. You couldn’t get more different! I’ve read it before, though, when I was much younger. I remember loving the questionnaire style opening so much that I wrote down all the questions and answered them myself.

The beauty of this book is that Tracy is really a very cheeky, obnoxious little girl, but brilliantly loveable at the same time. I’ve followed her through this book, plus watched her adventures on TV, and you just get under her skin enough to care, but still remain far enough away that she continues to surprise. At times you wonder why on earth Cam keeps coming back, but then you turn the page and the humour and joy of it all makes sense.

I also really like the ending. It’s content enough, but not a definitive happy ever after that would potentially be unbelievable.

Rating: 4 / 5