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A review by sunfishcakes
Love Frankie by Jacqueline Wilson, Nick Sharratt
3.5
I feel the stated premise on the back is oddly misleading. Some of the plot events it refers to don't occur until about 80% into the book? And then it doesn't mention the main character's family at all despite being a major part of the story? This isn't to say that it's not primarily about gay young love, it is, but its focuses are more varied and the pacing is much more meandering. So the book kind of confused me for a while.
I also feel some plot elements were a bit wishy washy. Sam being a fake boyfriend is kind of dropped and picked up when convenient for Frankie (true to the character) but it doesn't seem to entail consequences or misunderstandings.Same with Frankie preemptively announcing that she and Sally are dating. It's a bit odd. Overall the length and pacing were probably kind of bloated.
I really liked it though. Wilson is a childhood favorite of mine, so I'm a bit biased. I hadn't picked up a book by her in over a decade probably, and I instantly remembered why I liked her writing so much. Her writing really taps into the pathos of being young and growing up. Life during adolescence can be hard and overwhelming in so many ways, particularly when it comes to family, and she captures those feelings well. As heavy as the focus is on Frankie and her relationships with her family, I didn't mind at all because I enjoyed those parts a lot. They're not just accessories or obstacles for the arc of young love she experiences, but full facets of her life, and she's a much richer character for that.
It's interesting to see how things have changed over time in regards to being gay in kid literature. Homophobia is still very much present, but it's less of an existential threat. The lack of social media as a factor in teens' lives feels a bit conspicuous but as a nostalgic reader of Wilson's stuff, I didn't especially miss it either. Because of that, it felt like a book more of the late 00s but with more current politics. I would be curious to know what a younger reader would think of this story.
Finally, the ending surprised me quite a bit and I will say that I loved it. I'll be thinking about this book for a little while.
I also feel some plot elements were a bit wishy washy. Sam being a fake boyfriend is kind of dropped and picked up when convenient for Frankie (true to the character) but it doesn't seem to entail consequences or misunderstandings.
I really liked it though. Wilson is a childhood favorite of mine, so I'm a bit biased. I hadn't picked up a book by her in over a decade probably, and I instantly remembered why I liked her writing so much. Her writing really taps into the pathos of being young and growing up. Life during adolescence can be hard and overwhelming in so many ways, particularly when it comes to family, and she captures those feelings well. As heavy as the focus is on Frankie and her relationships with her family, I didn't mind at all because I enjoyed those parts a lot. They're not just accessories or obstacles for the arc of young love she experiences, but full facets of her life, and she's a much richer character for that.
It's interesting to see how things have changed over time in regards to being gay in kid literature. Homophobia is still very much present, but it's less of an existential threat. The lack of social media as a factor in teens' lives feels a bit conspicuous but as a nostalgic reader of Wilson's stuff, I didn't especially miss it either. Because of that, it felt like a book more of the late 00s but with more current politics. I would be curious to know what a younger reader would think of this story.
Finally, the ending surprised me quite a bit and I will say that I loved it. I'll be thinking about this book for a little while.