Funny and poignant, this is the most popular of all Jacqueline Wilson’s best-selling titles. Tracy Beaker, a feisty ten year old living in a children’s home, gives a sparky view of life in what she calls The Dumping Ground. She moves swiftly through her deep sadness at not having a ‘real’ home, her vigorous relationships with the other children and the ultimate joy of finding a wonderful foster mother. As fresh to read now as when it was first published twenty years ago.
The LoveReading Comment:
Probably Jacqueline Wilson’s most successful character creation. Tracy Beaker is a tough feisty little girl in a children’s home who longs to live in a real home with a real family one day. The author’s inspiration for the story came from seeing photos of children in local newspapers wanting to be fostered. It’s funny and sad in equal measure but ultimately uplifting and children of 7 or 8 upwards will want to read it again and again.
I'm Tracy Beaker - have you heard of me? I'm stuck in The Dumping Ground just at the moment, but I'm sure my Mum will come and get me soon. A certain Justine-Hateful-Littlewood has stolen my best friend Louise but I don't let it get me down. I never cry. Ever. I've done a bit of screaming and stamping in my time mind you … I like eating birthday cake. And Smarties and Big Macs with French fries and strawberry milkshakes. I also like story writing. This is a story all about me - so I know you'll enjoy it!
Includes exclusive material: In 'The Backstory' you can read an interview with Jacqueline Wilson and take Nick Sharratt's drawing challenge!
Vintage Children's Classics is a twenty-first century classics list aimed at 8-12 year olds and the adults in their lives. Discover timeless favourites from The Jungle Book and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to modern classics such as The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
Katy Guest, literary editor for The Independent on Sunday: "The pinnacle of the wonderful Jacqueline Wilson's brilliant and enormous output."
Author
About Jacqueline Wilson
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. As well as winning many awards for her books, including the Children’s Book of the Year, Jacqueline is a former Children’s Laureate, and in 2008 she was appointed a Dame. Jacqueline is also a great reader, and has amassed over 20,000 books, along with her famous collection of silver rings.
Jacqueline Wilson was our Guest Editor in February 2012. Click here to download an interview with Jacqueline.
