Baby Love

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This book also ended by talking about the topic of consent and adoption, in partnership with two relevant charities. But I don't think there's anything wrong with happy endings, especially in books for younger audiences. Baby Love is not suitable for Wilson’s more typical younger audience – it is an original piece whose characters will stick with you for a long time. The fact that no one really asked her how she got pregnant, and even she couldn’t recognise that she’d been assaulted shows how much things have changed but also in some ways, stayed the same.

She makes bonds that get her through what will be the hardest time of her short life, but ultimately make her strong, resilient and determined to fight for what she feels is right. But to keep ourselves on our toes, we have a rule that author gender is alternated, girl-boy-girl-boy, and the continents always rotated (with occasional glitches). With hard working parents who are proud of her achievements, she still dreams of a life like Nina’s. This book is dark but real and I was captivated by all of the themes surrounding the main plot (don’t worry I won’t give away any spoilers!We see a different side of this era, following Laura along her path of childhood to early motherhood. Sometimes the novels chosen are new, often they are from the backlist and occasionally re-issued from way back. A heartbreaking, compelling and timely story for older readers about teen pregnancy, family trouble and unlikely friendships, set in 1960. Ultimately, Jacqueline Wilson is and always has been a gem and smashing through this was just what I needed.

The story gripped me and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey Laura went through without having to think too hard. In efforts to stop this book review from turning into an essay, I’ll leave it there with a take home message.Maybe it’s because it’s in England (or maybe because it’s a Jacqueline Wilson novel), she isn’t sentenced to a life of gloom in this home for expectant mothers, it’s certainly not the best but it isn’t the tales from those horrible Irish nuns convent.

Holly BourneNever did I think upon reading this book that I would be so connected, invested and intensely engrossed as I was. I was surprised when I so easily slipped back into the world of Jacqueline Wilson at the ripe old age of 29.This is set in an era that she was familiar with (her published journals were a great read) and tells the story of how young, unwed mothers were treated by society. Aspirations to keep up with a wealthy friend are agonizing, and result in a huge mistake that she doesn’t even realise she’s making. The book still had the cosines of Wilson's previous books, but obviously had its darker aspects to it as well. Her prefab home is undoubtedly the nicest in their area, but still is in a street dubbed ‘Shantytown’ by her Grammar School classmates.

As well as winning many awards for her books, including the Children’s Book of the Year, Jacqueline is a former Children’s Laureate, and in 2008 she was appointed a Dame.Baby Love is the 100th book from Jacqueline Wilson, and perhaps this iconic children’s novelist toughest read of all.