Reviews

Cookie by Jacqueline Wilson

leahholmess1's review against another edition

inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

k_shanahan's review against another edition

2.0

Enjoying remembering my childhood

revisorium's review against another edition

5.0

This was always one of my favourite JWs as a child, mainly because I really identified with Beauty's low self esteem issues. I've made the cookies from the recipe at the back many times and they always go down a treat.

thebooklovingpanda's review

3.0

Another good read from Jacqueline Wilson! Although it wasn't as absorbing as some of her other books, such as Hetty Feather or Opal Plumstead, the heroine Beauty still had the usual tumultuous family life and social struggles as all the rest. It's incredible how Wilson never makes them boring and puts a different twist on each girl!

I thought the portrayal of Beauty's dad as not outright violent, but still abusive, is so relevant as most people would associate an abusive person as being violent, like Jayni's dad in Lola Rose, and not necessarily verbally aggressive. Gerry Cookson constantly talks down to his wife Dilly and Beauty, practically imprisons Dilly financially, treats them like show ponies basically - I hated him more than any other 'villain' in a Jacqueline Wilson book, especially after

Spoiler

he bloody let Beauty's brand new baby rabbit out of its cage and it got its head bit off

. He is a self-made, highly intelligent man who probably genuinely believes he is taking care of his family, but he doesn't seem to realise that throwing money at things won't magically 'fix' them, despite him labelling himself as 'Gerry the Fixer'. He is a misogynistic bully obsessed with his image. And yet I almost felt sorry for him in his confusion when they walked out, though that soon ended after he slagged Dilly off after she told him she got a job.

I loved how Dilly and Beauty's confidence really came out after they got away from his cutting dismissive comments and fits of rage. And everyone needs a friend like Rhona - a lovely kind person who doesn't care about your social status.

Skye is an interesting character - I would like to know why she is so mean to Beauty. I would love for Jacqueline Wilson to one day write a book with a 'popular', 'pretty', 'perfect' girl (or boy!) as her main character - she really has a knack for getting into people's heads, and it would be refreshing to see a character at the top of the social pyramid rather than the bottom, and how that affects them. Or maybe dual POVs? That hasn't happened since Double Act, and the main characters were twins.

This was a good book, even if it did seem a little too easy for the two girls to swan off and make a new life for themselves. But who doesn't like a happy ending?

aleksandranowacka_x's review against another edition

5.0

Definitely one of my favourite Jacqueline Wilson books. Very heartwarming.

branwen_vaughan's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

the_bookish_kat's review

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

slaughtercarrie's review against another edition

sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

jrs_55's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

titanic's review

5.0

"Dad is a bad man because
a) he gets so cross
b) he orders us around
c) he's a great big bully"

Finishing this book feels like a huge accomplishment because of how long I've been wanting to read it! It was embarrassingly good, and funny and had a really strong message. I honestly became so attached to Dilly's achievements and breaking away from her abusive husband, protecting not only Beauty, but herself. I was so proud, and happy!

The ending is a little cheesy, and makes me scrunch my toes up with embarrassment but it was enjoyable and reminded me why I love Jacqueline Wilson books. They have meaning in the words, and it's focused on real problems but the way she writes makes it so child friendly and I love that about her books. I'm also glad Wilson didn't write Dilly and Mike together, she just left them as friends which made me happy because Dilly said that she wanted to be on her own for a while, another thing that made me proud. Wilson didn't force the relationship, I loved it.

Wilson was able to tackle some really serious problems in this book, ones that doesn't make children run away crying because it's violent. She tackles bullying and abusive relationships and shows that this is not right and will hopefully stay with children so they can see the warning signs of these problems. It was so beautifully written!