Baby Love: Jacqueline Wilson

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Age-Gap Romance: While less of a romance and more of a brief sexual encounter, Laura is only fourteen when she has sex with the seventeen year old Leon. She also has a crush on Daniel, who is around the same age. When Laura meets a French exchange student, Leon, she is flattered by his interest in her. She's never had any sort of boyfriend before. One night, Leon walks Laura home - and her life will never be the same again. Things start to change for Laura - first her moods, and then her body. Laura isn't prepared for what she learns next - and doesn't even know how it could have happened. I’ve always been an avid reader of Jacqueline Wilson ever since I was young. I have so many positive memories of reading her books as a child (and even rereading them as an adult) and I’m so excited to read a book set for young adults and one of a more adult and sensitive subject too.

Baby Love - Jacqueline Wilson - Google Books Baby Love - Jacqueline Wilson - Google Books

I found the time Laura spent in the house of expectant mothers okay, it felt a bit like reading about boarding school but also dealing with the realities of parents who had shamed them and boys who had let them down. Laura herself does grow as a character when she thinks about the expectation placed on her vs Leon, but that is briefly stated and then never mentioned again really. The book ends up focusing on the bond between mothers and babies, and whilst I didn’t fully believe that Laura had the capacity for some of the realisations she had, I do think that could just be my scepticism. She lived in a place where there wasn’t much hope and perhaps, she developed much more than I’ve given her grace for. The ending was sweet and surprisingly something I saw coming. However, it was good for Laura and I think Wilson did a great job of showing other not so great endings for other women in the book for us to believe that Laura’s could be one of the good ones. Wilson balanced everything beautifully. The story is incredibly relatable - as Laura, before her pregnancy, is living a very ordinary teenage life in the ‘60s, with classic but pressing dilemmas (crushes, friendship drama, parents, and so on). She is also very likeable- clever, kind and a bit vulnerable. Jeannie is harsh towards Laura at first but rapidly warms up to her when they get to know one another better.The book looks at quite challenging topics such as consent, abuse and forced adoption yet does so in a way which a younger reader will be able to absorb it without being traumatised. I will always wonder at her ability to understand and translate such tough subjects and emotions into her words so beautifully. When her family learns her secret, they are horrified. Sent away to save them from shame, Laura meets girls just like herself, whose families have given up on them - and they become a family for each other at the most difficult time in all their lives.

Baby Love - Penguin Books UK Baby Love - Penguin Books UK

Jacqueline Wilson wrote her first novel when she was nine years old, and she has been writing ever since. She is now one of Britain's bestselling and most beloved children's authors. She has written over 100 books and is the creator of characters such as Tracy Beaker and Hetty Feather. More than forty million copies of her books have been sold. Mama Bear: Aunt Susannah enters Heathcote House with all the documents she needs to prove that she can take care of Laura and Kathy and refuses to take no for an answer. Author Avatar: Jacqueline Wilson was around the same age as Laura in 1960 and there are several similarities between her mother and Laura's, including her obsession with the class system and working similar hours. She even made sure to buy Wilson a pair of 'fancy upswept glasses' instead of the NHS ones.Cosmetic Catastrophe: Laura puts on mascara and rouge when going to the movies with Nina and Daniel, and initially struggles with making it look right. Nina then bluntly points out that it's weird she put on make up when they'll be sat in the dark. year-old Laura comes from a proud working-class family. Young for her age, Laura hasn’t had any experience of boys until she befriends glamorous, wealthy Nina, the daughter of two doctors. Laura is incredibly flattered by Nina’s attention, but aware she lives in what’s known as the “Shanty Town”, while Nina has everything she could possibly wish for, and kissing experience to boot. The dynamics between the two girls is incredibly realistic, perfectly capturing the differences between them. G-Rated Sex: Nothing really seems to happen between Laura and Leon; she mentions him pulling down her clothes and touching her but she pushes him away before he can seemingly do anything. However Leon does seem to sigh in a way that suggests he managed to ejaculate and Laura later remembers more details about the encounter. Double Act won the prestigious Smarties Medal and the Children’s Book Award as well as being highly commended for the Carnegie Medal. The Story of Tracy Beaker won the 2002 Blue Peter People’s Choice Award.

Baby Love | Jacqueline Wilson | 9780241567104 | NetGalley Baby Love | Jacqueline Wilson | 9780241567104 | NetGalley

I can’t understand how JW can completely understand teenage anxiety and make her characters come to life in such a fluid way. This book is dark but real and I was captivated by all of the themes surrounding the main plot (don’t worry I won’t give away any spoilers!) Yes it was in an easy to read format but the writing was highly emotive and the plot was gut wrenching Annoying Younger Sibling: Averted with Little Richard, who is a sweet and cheerful kid who tries to cheer his older siblings up when they're unhappy. Nina does seem to find him annoying at times, while Laura wishes that she was her little brother. Nina stops ignoring Laura when she hears her crying on the toilet and immediately tries to help her. Driven to Suicide: Apparently the windows are nailed shut at Heathcote House because some young mothers-to-be become suicidal.Jacqueline Wilson understands the complex interpersonal relationships of teenagers so well and writes with an unparalleled realness and rawness. I loved this book. It was heartbreaking but warm, unflinching yet somehow cosy. Nobody writes like Jacqueline Wilson. Long may she reign! I couldn't get the characters out of my head." - Holly Bourne It is quite a hard-hitting story, more suited to an audience of 13 years and older. Although this is a work of historical fiction, it touches on issues of consent, women's rights, adoption and family relationships that are still very relevant today. Wilson's afterword and resources for readers affected by the story make it a valuable educational read for teenagers. Not suitable for younger readers, discover the brand-new young adult read from one of Britain's favourite authors. The story gripped me and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey Laura went through without having to think too hard. Fiery Redhead: Averted with both Moira, who is a sweet tempered girl from an entire family of redheads and with Sarah, who is somewhat smug and pious but never once loses her temper.

Baby Love by Jacqueline Wilson (9780241567128/Paperback

Armistice Day: A Collection of Remembrance - Spark Interest and Educate Children about Historical MomentsBelinda is a sweet girl who dreams of raising her son with her boyfriend in the bar that her father owns but reality hits her hard when she learns her boyfriend hasn't been faithful to her and then she's forced into giving her son up for adoption. Jacqueline Wilson's new book is just as brilliant as her others. Featuring a pregnant teenager named Laura in 1960, Baby Love left me feeling all kinds of things.