British author Jacqueline Wilson, named Britain’s Children’s Laureate in 2005, has more than 70 children’s books of fiction in print. Her fiction deals with difficult subjects, such as mental illness, divorce, bullying, children in foster care, and dysfunctional families. Yet, it is enormously popular with 7-15 year olds, particularly 8-12 year old girls. Who is this author of fiction for children and what is it about her children’s books that makes them so popular?
Jacqueline Wilson: Her Writing Life
Although Jacqueline Wilson was born in 1945, she has an uncanny ability to appeal to girls of today. From the time she was a child growing up in Kingston-on-Thames, Wilson wanted to be a writer. She left school at the age of 16 and became a working journalist. As an adult, Wilson has written more than 70 children’s books. She follows a careful schedule, writing two books a year. Wilson loves the written word, and her home is filled with 10,000+ books.
Jacqueline Wilson: Her Awards and Honors
Jacqueline Wilson has won numerous awards and honors for her books, including the Smarties Prize and the Children’s Book Award. Her novel
The Illustrated Mum won the Guardian Children’s Book of the Year as well as the 1999 Children’s Book of the Year at the British Book Awards. When the BBC conducted its Big Read poll to determine the nation’s best-loved novel, four children’s books by Jacqueline Wilson were in the top 100:
The Story of Tracy Beaker (
compare prices),
Double Act (
compare prices),
Vicky Angel (
compare prices), and
Girls in Love (
compare prices).
In 2002, Jacqueline Wilson was recognized with the OBE (Order of the British Empire) for her valuable services to Britain through her children’s books. In May 2005, Jacqueline Wilson was named the British Children’s Laureate. According to the official Children’s Laureate Web site, this prestigious honor “…is awarded once every two years to an eminent writer or illustrator of children's books to celebrate outstanding achievement in their field.â€
Jacqueline Wilson: Her Books
In 2004, more books by Jacqueline Wilson were borrowed from UK public libraries than books by any other author. So many children come to her book signings that they can last as long as eight hours, and the fact that Wilson is willing to continue for that long is a reflection of her affection for her readers. According to Random House Children’s Books, her publisher since 1991, “Jacqueline Wilson has sold millions of books, her total stands at over 20 million in the UK alone.â€
How does she do it? Jacqueline Wilson tackles serious subjects in her books, ones of great interest to kids and young teens. Having just read Bad Girls, I'd say Wilson's positive approach, humor, realistic characters, and first person narratives that so effectively capture the “voice†of the main character are among the reasons young people find her books so appealing. Nick Sharratt’s clever illustrations also add to the appeal of Wilson’s books.
In addition to her many books that feature girls as the main characters, Jacqueline Wilson has written several books that feature boys. In Cliffhanger (compare prices) and its sequel, Buried Alive (compare prices), the main character is a boy named Tim. Many of the problems Tim copes with are ones boys readily identify with, such as not being good at sports and being bothered by bullies.
Jacqueline Wilson's books are readily available in the United States. Check your public library or your child's school library. Her book are also available at bookstores, both major chains and independent bookstores. They are also available online.
Jacqueline Wilson: Her Web Site
The official
Jacqueline Wilson Web site is maintained by Random House UK. It includes Wilson’s biography, extracts from some of her children’s books, plus cover art and summaries of her books. You will also find facts about this prolific writer, the official Jacqueline Wilson Fan Club, and more.
No comments:
Post a Comment