The true Jacqueline Wilson story. I Have only read one of her other books, but I think I can still say that this book is very true to her fictional style. JW really can write for children. She knows what they want and need and how to present it. Easy and entertraining. 100% child friendly. Even thou I'm not a child anymore (ie a bit too old for this book) I really enjoyed the book. JW just writed in a fun way. All thou at some points i as an adult reader of course really felt that I was not part of the audience she is actaully writing for. But I really feel it workr perfectly for elementary school children. JW has really got emphaty, symphaty for her readers. Her childhood wasn't that unordinary, but that's probably the point. Her goal is to write about ordinary things. But for children of today her childhood in the 50s might actually seem a bit exotic. But still JW makes sure that any 2000s kid can relate to what she is writing. JW talks to children, but she doesn't talk down to them. She wants to involve them and includes her authorship in the book by relating every chapter to an episode in some of her fictional books. She shows how there is a connection between her real life and her fictional books. She lets the children in on her writing process. All this in a 100% child friendly way. As an adult reader I am of course longing for a follow up. What happened next? Because the story of Jacqueline Wilson of course doesn't end when she finishes primary school and knows she will be an author some day. I would really like to know about the adult years of this great author, but that is of course not what this book is about. It is a whole other story and it could of course not be written in a child friendly way, because children want to read about children, not adults. And in JW's case her childhood really is the most relevant part of her life, since that's where she gets her inspiration for her books. All in all I really understand why Jacqueline Wilson is the most borrowed author in the libraries of Britain.
A fantastic autobiography! Very true to her ficitonal style and absolutely perfect for the children that read her books. Jacqueline is an absolutely inspirational children's author and has the most perfect knack for writing for children, whether she's writing fiction or non-fiction. I found myself relating to so many things that she shared in this book. I just wish I had read it before I had the priveledge of meeting her earlier this year at the WHSmith book signing she did. I think I would have been slighly less in awe of her then, knowing that she and I actually shared many similarities in childhood, and so would have actually said something to her other than 'hello' and 'thank you', lol. But yes, a very insightful, enjoyable read, and I am now looking forward to reading the follow-up, 'My Secret Diary'.
What do You think about Jacky Daydream (2007)?
This one has some funny bits. a painting that has turned the subject to a coal miner. Jacky truly has a sense of humour. This is my first Jacky book, i was not introduced her work when i was a child. Even grown-ups enjoy this. well-done, Jacky.Overall, a wonderful read of childhood stories of the author by the author. Many grown-ups have trouble remembering their childhood series of events and yet, Jacky managed this job so well, taking us the readers through her personal events of her childhood years.
—Slow Man
I used this autobiography of Jacqueline Wilson's life (birth to age 11) as the basis for a Book Club lesson about the writer and her work. It is organised in an interesting, and rather unique, way: not only does each chapter address some aspect of JW's childhood, and include relevant pictures, but it also makes connections to the novels. (I know that one of the most common questions all authors get is "where do you get your ideas/characters from," and JW does much to try to answer that question. It is definitely a book written for JW aficionados.)If you are familiar with JW's writing style, you will know that all of her work -- even the more experimental novels -- has a consistent voice. You will find that (instantly recognisable) voice in the autobiography, too. Perhaps she has merely made a sort of fiction of her own life, but if not, then she has an outstanding memory. This is a precisely detailed book from a person who still seems intimately connected with what it feels like to be a child -- which is, no doubt, the very secret to her great success.
—Beth Bonini
