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melspeth's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
ev_'s review against another edition
5.0
By far my favourite of the series, Wilson delivers, I’m just gutted I hadn’t read it before now, although you gain just as much from the read as the intended audience I’m sure. It’s a well rounded story and ahead of the mini series I’m now super excited to see it come to life. It had a bit of everything and also leaned gently into bigger discussions of the world, without making them big plot lines, more just parts of each character. That last chapter hit me IN THE FEELS though. Finished the book with a smile on my face, content with how it finished but still craving more!
motherbooker's review against another edition
4.0
From my review at motherbookerblog.com:
"My Mum Tracy Beaker is full of all the things that have made Wilson such a popular writer with young people. It is fun, relatable, and isn’t afraid to show us that real life, quite often, sucks. Tracy still dreams of her fairytale ending but Jess has lower expectations. She is quite content in her little flat with her mother. It’s not the perfect life but it is a happy one. And that’s the point that Wilson has always tried to bring across to her readers. Not all lives are the same but there is the same potential for happiness out there for us all. You just need to keep looking for it. Reading this book brought back all those old feelings and made me feel like a kid again. It’s something that people of all ages can and should enjoy.
However, it can’t be denied that at my more mature age I had some issues with Wilson’s book. There was a lot of repetition in the narrative and a lot of recapping from previous stories that I found quite tedious. I realise that she needed to introduce new readers to Tracy and co but it seemed to go on a bit too much. Then there’s the LGBTQ storyline which I felt was a bit pathetic. Instead of openly discussing a character’s sexuality, Wilson has her characters talk about it in innuendos. I feel like an author who is so willing to push certain boundaries should have been more willing to include an openly gay presence in her books. Instead, it is pushed into the background. It feels like a missed opportunity.
The story is quite predictable and obvious but I can’t really fault that. It’s written for a specific audience that I’m not part of. Yes, there are aspects of the story that solely cater to the grown-up readers but, ultimately, this is a story meant to be enjoyed by children. As such, it does everything it needs to do. It is sweet, funny, and drama filled. New and old fans of Tracy Beaker will enjoy everything about this and, hopefully, it will introduce plenty of new readers to the joy of Jacqueline Wilson’s books."
"My Mum Tracy Beaker is full of all the things that have made Wilson such a popular writer with young people. It is fun, relatable, and isn’t afraid to show us that real life, quite often, sucks. Tracy still dreams of her fairytale ending but Jess has lower expectations. She is quite content in her little flat with her mother. It’s not the perfect life but it is a happy one. And that’s the point that Wilson has always tried to bring across to her readers. Not all lives are the same but there is the same potential for happiness out there for us all. You just need to keep looking for it. Reading this book brought back all those old feelings and made me feel like a kid again. It’s something that people of all ages can and should enjoy.
However, it can’t be denied that at my more mature age I had some issues with Wilson’s book. There was a lot of repetition in the narrative and a lot of recapping from previous stories that I found quite tedious. I realise that she needed to introduce new readers to Tracy and co but it seemed to go on a bit too much. Then there’s the LGBTQ storyline which I felt was a bit pathetic. Instead of openly discussing a character’s sexuality, Wilson has her characters talk about it in innuendos. I feel like an author who is so willing to push certain boundaries should have been more willing to include an openly gay presence in her books. Instead, it is pushed into the background. It feels like a missed opportunity.
The story is quite predictable and obvious but I can’t really fault that. It’s written for a specific audience that I’m not part of. Yes, there are aspects of the story that solely cater to the grown-up readers but, ultimately, this is a story meant to be enjoyed by children. As such, it does everything it needs to do. It is sweet, funny, and drama filled. New and old fans of Tracy Beaker will enjoy everything about this and, hopefully, it will introduce plenty of new readers to the joy of Jacqueline Wilson’s books."
cerim's review against another edition
4.0
Nothing like a wee read of childhood favourites when you’re going through a tough time.
Although it’s a new book, Tracy Beaker hasn’t changed a bit. Really enjoyed and I loved the ending!
Although it’s a new book, Tracy Beaker hasn’t changed a bit. Really enjoyed and I loved the ending!
katyroy's review against another edition
2.0
I know I’m not the audience for this but I was thinking who is because I read Tracy beaker at the appropriate age of 8 I think. Jess was cute but nothing much happened in the book and usually Jacqueline Wilson books have some sort of message or main theme and I don’t really get what it was in this book. I guess just that money isn’t everything.
I also realise that JW focuses way too much on appearance than I’m comfortable with in a children’s book. Even though I was obsessed with all her books as a child I’m not sure I’d want my child t read them because some of them are actually traumatic and all of them focus a lot on how people look like the children all think they’re ugly and fat people are seen as unlovable and the only beautiful people are skinny people with blonde hair
I also realise that JW focuses way too much on appearance than I’m comfortable with in a children’s book. Even though I was obsessed with all her books as a child I’m not sure I’d want my child t read them because some of them are actually traumatic and all of them focus a lot on how people look like the children all think they’re ugly and fat people are seen as unlovable and the only beautiful people are skinny people with blonde hair
fakeweirdfishes's review against another edition
4.0
When I was about 12 I read the books about Tracy Beaker and was thrilled when I heard about another book, told from the perspective of her daughter. I loved traveling back to the world of Jacqueline Wilson's writing and seeing how she struggles to be a good mother and to give her daughter, Jess the childhood she didn't have.
rebecca_hedger's review against another edition
4.0
Tracy Beaker is still one of my heroes...I loved coming back to her story and meeting her daughter. Great stuff!