Stevie‘s review of The Story of Tracy Beaker (Tracy Beaker, Book 1) by Jacqueline Wilson
Contemporary Middle Grade Fiction published by RHCP Digital 04 Sep 08
Having enjoyed Jacqueline Wilson’s most recent release, Love Frankie, I decided to go back and reacquaint myself with one of her best-known and most iconic characters, Tracy Beaker. Tracy has starred in a book series, a later spin-off book, and several TV series. There have also been a number of other tie-ins, including a stage play and a video game. The book originally came out in the era of Section 28, as well as when I was well outside its target readership, but there is still at least one main character who can easily be read as part of the LGBT+ community, even if that knowledge doesn’t register with our main protagonist.
Tracy Beaker is ten years old at the start of this book, the first one in the first series, and living in a children’s home, which she refers to as The Dumping Ground – since it houses youngsters who are waiting to be assigned foster homes or whose foster placements have not worked out for one reason or another. Her story is told through a series of entries she makes in a journal specifically produced for children in care, which begins with a set of preset questions, along with Tracy’s answers. These are then followed by Tracy’s ongoing adventures, told in her very distinctive voice. We quickly learn that Tracy is a very resilient child, with a vivid imagination, who sees any display of emotion as a sign of weakness, but who is quick to form friendships, though almost as quick to fall out of them due to some real or imagined slight.
Tracy is in care due to her mother having been in an abusive relationship, but firmly believes that they will be together as a family again very soon – just the two of them – as soon as her mother is settled and making good money in one of the various careers Tracy imagines for her. In the meantime, Tracy longs for a foster family that will work out better for her than the two she has had so far. However, it seems that she unconsciously, or maybe even consciously, sabotages her relationships with her foster carers due to her own fear of abandonment.
Tracy’s interest in writing is eventually recognised by Cam, a visitor to the care home, who is planning to write an article on children seeking foster families. The pair form a bond, and Tracy imagines she has found someone to foster her. However, given the politics of the time and various hints dropped by Cam, it seems unlikely that this would have been possible. Their friendship allows Tracy to grow in confidence and to build bridges with other children whom she has previously pushed away, not even showing resentment when it seems as though one of them might have found a foster home, as she would have done previously.
Like other books by this author, the ending is left open, but not in a disappointing way, and I’m looking forward to tracking down the next in the series, once I catch up with a few more books in my To Read pile.
Grade: A
Summary:
The original classic and much-loved tale featuring Jacqueline Wilson’s most popular character, the one-and-only Tracy Beaker.
‘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.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
