March 2011, Corgi Yearling
224 pages, Paperback
Review copy
Children's, 9 years +
Themes: living in care, being disruptive, making up stories, loneliness, lies, good opportunities, fostering, child romance, being on TV a lot of alughs
Summary from Random House Children's Books
'I'm Tracy Beaker. This is a book all about me. I'd read it if I were you. It's the most incredible dynamic heart-rending story. Honest.'
Tracy is ten years old. She lives in a Children's Home but would like a real home one day, with a real family. Meet Tracy, follow her story and share her hopes for the future in this beautifully observed, touching and often very funny tale, all told in Tracy's own words.
Nayuleska's reasons for loving Tracy...she's a really funny tearaway, always putting her foot in it, with a colourful imagination and off page vocabulary.
How evil/nasty is the enemy? Speak out Tracy's private thoughts from her diary makes Justine not exactly Tracy's best friend.
Are there lots of twists and surprises? It was quite surprising how nice things happened to Tracy even when she behaved badly.
One of my favourite parts was...whenever Tracy had an attack of hayfever - quite an imaginative description of crying.
I now understand the clips I've seen on TV a lot better by reading this book, which gets 8/10.
Make sure you check out Jacqueline's website for more info on Tracy and all her other books.
Suggested reading
For another read about a child in care, check out Being Billy by Phil Earle
I loved Tracey Beaker when I was younger! I re-read it last year for my dissertation prep and if possible it got even better! I also have Being Billy on my TBR! :D
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