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pixieauthoress's review against another edition
4.0
This was one of my favourite Jacqueline Wilson books and I repeatedly reread it as a preteen. Thinking back on it, it's horrifically depressing and very dark, so I'm not sure I'd appreciate it to much as an adult. I read it at the age of 12 and I'd say this is the the youngest it's appropriate for. Looking at what Wilson is currently publishing, her writing is definitely getting darker! Nowadays I tend to prefer her stories for younger kids, such as [b:Lizzie Zipmouth|850251|Lizzie Zipmouth|Jacqueline Wilson|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178896668s/850251.jpg|499682], probably because they're not as depressing. But still, I used to love this book so I'll keep it for sentimental reasons.
astoriawildflower's review against another edition
5.0
Adored this. So heartbreaking and touching. Intriguing from start to finish. The ending was fantastic.
flz's review against another edition
I was a little bit disappointed when I finished. Not because of the ending, but because the story ended right after it started to get fun. The ending is really good, though, very unexpected!
mizannie's review against another edition
3.0
There are a LOT of Jacqueline Wilson books on the BBC Top 200 list (thirteen?) & this, I feel, is one of her better ones. Over the years we’ve seen tragic news stories about young women abandoning their babies in school toilets or dumpsters; here Wilson imagines the life of one of those babies as a teen. What happens to these babies? What’s it like to always wonder why you’ve been abandoned? What’s it like to be in the foster care system? How do you come to accept that you will never have the so-called “ideal” family, and be able to value, even love, the family you end up with? I like to think young people will read this and come away with a bit more compassion for those who may be struggling with these issues.
enterprise1701's review against another edition
5.0
Adored this. So heartbreaking and touching. Intriguing from start to finish. The ending was fantastic.
loiereads's review against another edition
4.0
Since I recently re-read My Sister Jodie to see if it effected me the same as when I first read it as a child, I thought I would do it again, but this time, I read Dustbin Baby. This is another of Jacqueline Wilson’s books that I remember having quite a deep story.
Alongside re-reading the book, I wanted to watch the ITV film adaptation.
Dustbin Baby is a story about 14 year old April who was abandoned in a dustbin just after she was born. When she’s discovered by a pizza restaurant worker, she gets 5 seconds of fame in the newspaper as the “Dustbin Baby.” From there on out, April bounces from foster home to foster home, never quite settling down and making friends. Throughout the book, we follow April on her 14th birthday as she skips school on a quest to find out more about herself.
The film does an excellent job of portraying this as well. All the actors do a very well in filling out their characters and drawing you into the story, keeping you invested. A lot of film adaptations miss out a lot of important details to save screen time, but Dustbin Baby feels very close to the book. There are a few slight changes between the book and the film, but nothing that takes away from the story and its meaning.
Overall, the book is a captivating story of a young girl who has had a difficult childhood growing up, with the theme of self discovery, and also how your family isn’t always the people you are related to by blood. Even when reading as an adult, I was still strongly emotionally effected by this book.
There's an extended version of this review on my blog:
https://loiereads.wordpress.com/2020/07/24/dustbin-baby-a-review-film-adaptation-comparison/
Dustbin Baby is a story about 14 year old April who was abandoned in a dustbin just after she was born. When she’s discovered by a pizza restaurant worker, she gets 5 seconds of fame in the newspaper as the “Dustbin Baby.” From there on out, April bounces from foster home to foster home, never quite settling down and making friends. Throughout the book, we follow April on her 14th birthday as she skips school on a quest to find out more about herself.
The film does an excellent job of portraying this as well. All the actors do a very well in filling out their characters and drawing you into the story, keeping you invested. A lot of film adaptations miss out a lot of important details to save screen time, but Dustbin Baby feels very close to the book. There are a few slight changes between the book and the film, but nothing that takes away from the story and its meaning.
Overall, the book is a captivating story of a young girl who has had a difficult childhood growing up, with the theme of self discovery, and also how your family isn’t always the people you are related to by blood. Even when reading as an adult, I was still strongly emotionally effected by this book.
There's an extended version of this review on my blog:
https://loiereads.wordpress.com/2020/07/24/dustbin-baby-a-review-film-adaptation-comparison/
ghostofthegallows's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Christ this book was dark lmao. The first 20 pages and main character who is 14 btw was talking about child birth and abandoneding a baby. Also the main character is the WORST.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual assault
marinaschulz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
So depressing!! I mean, a really good, at times poignant book, about love and family and acceptance, but really don't let children who are too young read! Very very strong.
includes subjects like (obviously) an abandoned baby, the troubles of adoption, her first family breaking up, her foster mom's suicide, and bullying in her other homes, until she's finally happily adopted
includes subjects like (obviously) an abandoned baby, the troubles of adoption, her first family breaking up, her foster mom's suicide, and bullying in her other homes, until she's finally happily adopted
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Suicide
pinksophia25's review against another edition
5.0
Very emotional I cried. Short read but very impactful and thought-provoking