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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
trigger warning: death of a pet, domestic violence, bullying
3.5 Stars
3.5 Stars
Reading Jacqueline Wilson as an adult brings a whole new wonderful dimension into her stories. Cookie is now one of my favourites - although it's told from the point of view of a young girl I felt so much for her mother and the stories of all the adults around her too. Its wonderfully written and I'm looking forward to rereading as many of Jacqueline Wilson's books as I can and discovering the new ones too.
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This is the only Jacqueline Wilson book I have read so far that has a mum character who is so lovely and understanding and sympathetic. There were many points in the story that I loved, one being the main character, Beauty, being described as not being (conventionally) beautiful. While I understand that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, it is still true that people, especially children, may suffer from insecurities due to their looks and may get bullied or mocked by their peers. It was portrayed wonderfully through Beauty who is nicknamed Ugly by her classmates.
Beauty lives with a loving Mum, Dilys, and an abusive Dad. While [b:Lola Rose|1482396|Lola Rose|Jacqueline Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1397310856l/1482396._SY75_.jpg|2221278] deals with a physically abusive father, this book shows abuse quite differently. The father seems to be loving and caring at first appearance, always fussing about his wife and daughter. But he controls everything Dilys and Beauty do; tells them what to wear, how to behave, what to eat. A successful businessman, the father is incredibly materialistic and does not let Beauty have pets or use crayons or paints in case she ruins the furniture or the walls. Worst of all, he constantly berates Beauty about her appearance and nags Dilys to buy her girly clothes and straighten her hair to make her look pretty.
The thing about abuse in this book is that it is subtle. The father does not think he is doing anything wrong. He thinks that Dilys and Beauty should be grateful to him for giving them so many dresses and makeup and all the luxury they live in. He thinks that they owe him to be pretty and good for him.
This is evidently a complex situation but I think Jacqueline Wilson has dealt with it remarkably well. We can clearly see how Dilys and Beauty feel oppressed by him. Even though his actions seem loving from the outside, they clearly torment the girls and we are shown how Beauty has learned to act at a young age to please her father.
Apart from the abuse and torments, Cookie was a very pleasant book to read owing to the relationship between Beauty and her mother. I love how the author also included moments when other people tell Dilys how lucky she is that her husband doesn't hit her and that she should suck it up because other women have it worse. It's a hard and painful truth about the society we live in.
Beauty lives with a loving Mum, Dilys, and an abusive Dad. While [b:Lola Rose|1482396|Lola Rose|Jacqueline Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1397310856l/1482396._SY75_.jpg|2221278] deals with a physically abusive father, this book shows abuse quite differently. The father seems to be loving and caring at first appearance, always fussing about his wife and daughter. But he controls everything Dilys and Beauty do; tells them what to wear, how to behave, what to eat. A successful businessman, the father is incredibly materialistic and does not let Beauty have pets or use crayons or paints in case she ruins the furniture or the walls. Worst of all, he constantly berates Beauty about her appearance and nags Dilys to buy her girly clothes and straighten her hair to make her look pretty.
The thing about abuse in this book is that it is subtle. The father does not think he is doing anything wrong. He thinks that Dilys and Beauty should be grateful to him for giving them so many dresses and makeup and all the luxury they live in. He thinks that they owe him to be pretty and good for him.
This is evidently a complex situation but I think Jacqueline Wilson has dealt with it remarkably well. We can clearly see how Dilys and Beauty feel oppressed by him. Even though his actions seem loving from the outside, they clearly torment the girls and we are shown how Beauty has learned to act at a young age to please her father.
Apart from the abuse and torments, Cookie was a very pleasant book to read owing to the relationship between Beauty and her mother. I love how the author also included moments when other people tell Dilys how lucky she is that her husband doesn't hit her and that she should suck it up because other women have it worse. It's a hard and painful truth about the society we live in.
Another book by Jacqueline Wilson. And I like it. I do like it :D
Menceritakan tentang seorang anak yang diberi nama Beauty. Tapi dia wajahnya biasa saja. Dan pintar pula. Si culun pintar lah kalau istilah kami di sekolah. Dan jelas lah dia tidak termasuk geng populer yang biasanya dihuni gadis-gadis cantik nan gaul.
Beauty punya seorang ibu yang sangat cantik tapi ceroboh. Dia punya ayah yang pintar tapi pemarah dan sok. Dan disinilah masalah dimulai. Karena tidak tahan dengan sikap sang ayah yang menyebalkan, Beauty dan ibunya meninggalkan rumah.
Untunglah semuanya berakhir bahagia bagi Beauty dan ibunya. Terutama bagi Beauty, karena dia mendapat kejutan yang manis diakhir cerita. Kejutan yang membuat saya menangis saking ikut bahagianya. Ckckckck...
Menceritakan tentang seorang anak yang diberi nama Beauty. Tapi dia wajahnya biasa saja. Dan pintar pula. Si culun pintar lah kalau istilah kami di sekolah. Dan jelas lah dia tidak termasuk geng populer yang biasanya dihuni gadis-gadis cantik nan gaul.
Beauty punya seorang ibu yang sangat cantik tapi ceroboh. Dia punya ayah yang pintar tapi pemarah dan sok. Dan disinilah masalah dimulai. Karena tidak tahan dengan sikap sang ayah yang menyebalkan, Beauty dan ibunya meninggalkan rumah.
Untunglah semuanya berakhir bahagia bagi Beauty dan ibunya. Terutama bagi Beauty, karena dia mendapat kejutan yang manis diakhir cerita. Kejutan yang membuat saya menangis saking ikut bahagianya. Ckckckck...
It's really interesting re-reading these as an adult. I'd completely forgotten how much domestic abuse JW fits into her books - as a kid, I'd hated Beauty's dad but not really registered how utterly vile and abusive he is. Essentially, these are a LOT darker than they're marketed to be!
JW standards:
- protagonist: The Shy One. (eg. [b:Secrets|853374|Secrets|Jacqueline Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1178915507l/853374._SX50_.jpg|499563], [b:The Suitcase Kid|511566|The Suitcase Kid|Jacqueline Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1353573578l/511566._SX50_.jpg|2204120], [b:Double Act|511527|Double Act|Jacqueline Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1353573624l/511527._SX50_.jpg|499516], [b:The Illustrated Mum|511684|The Illustrated Mum|Jacqueline Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320392229l/511684._SY75_.jpg|499669])
- 1 skinny blonde bully. (eg. [b:Sleepovers|850249|Sleepovers|Jacqueline Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1178896650l/850249._SY75_.jpg|701140])
- 1 young cool mum who people think is the sister (eg. [b:The Lottie Project|511528|The Lottie Project|Vicky Ireland|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1299421958l/511528._SY75_.jpg|499517])
- 1 wannabe best friend who the blonde bully likes ([b:Sleepovers|850249|Sleepovers|Jacqueline Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1178896650l/850249._SY75_.jpg|701140])
- a bad dad/stepdad (eg. [b:The Bed and Breakfast Star|511661|The Bed and Breakfast Star|Jacqueline Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1356446468l/511661._SX50_.jpg|499646], [b:The Suitcase Kid|511566|The Suitcase Kid|Jacqueline Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1353573578l/511566._SX50_.jpg|2204120])
JW standards:
- protagonist: The Shy One. (eg. [b:Secrets|853374|Secrets|Jacqueline Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1178915507l/853374._SX50_.jpg|499563], [b:The Suitcase Kid|511566|The Suitcase Kid|Jacqueline Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1353573578l/511566._SX50_.jpg|2204120], [b:Double Act|511527|Double Act|Jacqueline Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1353573624l/511527._SX50_.jpg|499516], [b:The Illustrated Mum|511684|The Illustrated Mum|Jacqueline Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320392229l/511684._SY75_.jpg|499669])
- 1 skinny blonde bully. (eg. [b:Sleepovers|850249|Sleepovers|Jacqueline Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1178896650l/850249._SY75_.jpg|701140])
- 1 young cool mum who people think is the sister (eg. [b:The Lottie Project|511528|The Lottie Project|Vicky Ireland|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1299421958l/511528._SY75_.jpg|499517])
- 1 wannabe best friend who the blonde bully likes ([b:Sleepovers|850249|Sleepovers|Jacqueline Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1178896650l/850249._SY75_.jpg|701140])
- a bad dad/stepdad (eg. [b:The Bed and Breakfast Star|511661|The Bed and Breakfast Star|Jacqueline Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1356446468l/511661._SX50_.jpg|499646], [b:The Suitcase Kid|511566|The Suitcase Kid|Jacqueline Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1353573578l/511566._SX50_.jpg|2204120])
So pink! And yet, inside is a story of verbal and emotional abuse written for the very young. The writing is surprisingly good but the story is so sweet and young it almost makes your teeth hurt. I mean, it is a book for the young. But it feels really young for a 300+ page book.
Jacqueline Wilson's books were always weirdly dark for the age they're aimed at and this one was no different.
I liked the distinct Englishness, which gave it a pleasantly exotic feel to my American eyes. But the dad was really bad and the mom sweet but dim (except when she wasn't) so it felt a bit flat to my elderly nitpicking self. And the ending left a lot open so I didn't feel the characters were settled.