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astoriawildflower's review
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!
enterprise1701's review
5.0
Adored this. So heartbreaking and touching. Intriguing from start to finish. The ending was fantastic.
loiereads's review
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
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: Toxic relationship and Pregnancy
Moderate: Sexual assault
marinaschulz's review
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: Child abuse, Suicide, Blood, Death of parent, and Abandonment
pinksophia25's review
5.0
Very emotional I cried. Short read but very impactful and thought-provoking
nichknack's review
4.0
I've been a fan of Jacqueline Wilson for as long as I can remember and decided to reread one of her books that I read when I was around seven. Don't read this if you are seven. Compared to some other JW books this is very sad and very dark. And I loved it quiet a lot, the book does a very good job of making you feel sorry for April especially during the part about her 'friend' called Peal.
I would recommend this for an fans of JW who are 13+
I would recommend this for an fans of JW who are 13+
gabrielle07mcm's review
3.0
The story line was good! Felt it was a bit rushed though and some of the content in it, I would have marked it as 14+/15+
But overall...
the characters were good and relatable 8/10
Storyline was good but too rushed 6/10
Ending wasn't really how I wanted it to end 6/10
Beginning was difficult to grab me 5/10
Overall 6.25/10
But overall...
the characters were good and relatable 8/10
Storyline was good but too rushed 6/10
Ending wasn't really how I wanted it to end 6/10
Beginning was difficult to grab me 5/10
Overall 6.25/10