There's a reason why Jacqueline Wilson has sold more than 40m books. Yet again she delivers a touching, bittersweet drama about ordinary, credible lives. The characterization is spot on, showing real insight into how today's youngsters think, talk and behave, and Frankie's story beautifully conveys the thrill of first love and the additional complications that being gay can bring to it - Financial Times Flood, Alison (4 April 2020). "Jacqueline Wilson reveals publicly that she is gay". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 20 April 2020 . Retrieved 20 April 2020.

Love Frankie - Jacqueline Wilson - Google Books Love Frankie - Jacqueline Wilson - Google Books

Being a prior super-fan of Jacqueline, the reading experience was incredibly nostalgic. The characters are described with care and detail. The ordinary is made beautiful. The excitement and hardship of being a teenager are described through a sensitive and passionate young Frankie. Frankie was a highly relatable character for me although some of the stereotypical (ie hating girly things/ good at sport/ should I cut my hair short?) descriptions were uninspiring; however I think these things do connect to a shared experience of girls who are coming out and unearthing their identity, thus the phrase "baby dyke". I know I’m not exactly the target age range for Jacqueline Wilson, but (confession) I’ve read quite a few of her books over the years - my daughter used to love them - and the synopsis sounded too good to resist. The one Asian character was a complete stereotype and only appeared occasionally being used as a prop for bigging up the protagonists mood. She was such a two-dimensional character. Popular, pretty Sally Macclesfield has been thirteen-year-old Frankie’s nemesis for a while, but when they finally start becoming friends, Frankie realises her feelings for Sally go beyond friendship. And Sally, it seems, feels the same way, or does she? While Frankie is wrestling with the confusion of Sally’s hot and cold behaviour, she’s also dealing with her mother’s illness and her two sisters - Zara, the eldest, and Sylvanian-Family-obsessed Rowena, the little one. Then there’s best friend Sam, the boy next door who might want to be something more. Frankie is the middle girl in a trio of sisters, trying to look after her Mum after she fell ill, their Dad left them and now her best friend wants to be her boyfriend. Her conversations with her slightly scary big sister and her Sylvanian Family obsessed little sister are lovely, and actually reminded me of my nieces.

I immediately was hooked; Frankie is such a likeable character and I found that I couldn’t wait to keep reading. I found that the story was a fantastic way to explore all the complex emotions that come with being a teenager, and even as an adult I could really relate to the different characters in the book. There were so many different themes that were touched upon sensitively, there were bright moments and there were tough moments. The main theme of sexuality was handled very well and I particularly liked how the characters were so different in their approach to it – it made it feel very real and showed how people’s reactions can be so different, whether they are the person with those feelings or whether they’re on the outside. Love Frankie is a children's novel by English novelist Jacqueline Wilson. The book was published on 17 September 2020, after two delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Frankie and Sally as a couple are cute, although the two do not seem a convincing nor withstanding match and the book closes without resolve of their significant issues. I personally was hopeful that Frankie might realise she was actually in love with Ivneet, Ellie-and-Dan style (sequel idea???). But alas, love, particularly young love, is often shallow. The relationship between Sammy and Frankie is handled with great care. The supporting characters all have their moments too. Frankie's mother, siblings, and Bear are all loveable and are painted so vividly that you feel as if you're in their home with them. I adored this book and think that JW may now be my new not-so-guilty pleasure. I may have to reread some of my old favourites at some point once I have read the books which I currently own that are on my TBR list. Jacqueline Wilson puts 'heart and soul' into first gay heroine". CBBC Newsround. 6 April 2020. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020 . Retrieved 20 April 2020.

Love Frankie by Jacqueline Wilson - LoveReading4Kids Love Frankie by Jacqueline Wilson - LoveReading4Kids

Powys Maurice, Emma (4 April 2020). "Best-selling children's author Jacqueline Wilson publicly comes out as gay". PinkNews. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020 . Retrieved 20 April 2020. I think it’s so important that books like Love Frankie exist, especially from authors such as Jacqueline Wilson. It’s such an approachable look at growing up, discovering new feelings and diversity. I felt that it really normalised feelings towards the same sex in a way that was approachable and I could imagine quite realistic. I felt that I could relate to the feelings Frankie was facing; first love is first love regardless of gender, and that Jacqueline, as usual, really captured what it’s like to be a teenager and have all these different feelings and emotions and challenges. 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. a b Allardice, Lisa (4 April 2020). "Jacqueline Wilson: 'I've never really been in any kind of closet' ". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 April 2020 . Retrieved 20 April 2020.Jacqueline is one of the nation’s favourite authors, and her books are loved and cherished by young readers not only in the UK but all over the world. She has sold millions of books and in the UK alone the total now stands at over 35 million! Hello Yellow - 80 Books to Help Children Nurture Good Mental Health and Support With Anxiety and Wellbeing - I can't help feeling that Sally wasn't quite worthy of Frankie's devotion, but I appreciated that she wasn't a villain, and had some redeeming qualities. I felt the ending was appropriate. There is not a great deal of resolution, but the girls are not quite fourteen yet, so the ending point felt quite fitting to me. Maybe things will work out, maybe they won't. At thirteen, it makes sense that that would be somewhat up in the air. I did love that the drama wasn't really about Frankie's sexuality, just the general stuff that comes along with first, unexpected love, especially when the object of your affections isn't the kindest person. Frankie learns to value herself and stand up to being treated poorly, that was brilliant to see. I'm trying to understand why it felt like a 3 star read; one reason might be the language used by the young characters, which felt inconsistent to me. The words and sayings that the 13 year olds used didn't always suit their age or the time in which it is set (now). Jacqueline Wilson has a very specific dialogue style that cropped up at times then went away. I found it more jarring in this book set in the current day than the newer historical fiction books or even the contemporary novels written in the 90s. Admittedly at almost 23 years old I am much older than the intended target audience of Jacqueline Wilson. However, as a child she was my favourite author and I have fond memories of my grandma buying both myself and my older cousin a copy of every new book which she released. I would read these books way past my bedtime hidden under the covers and finish them in one or two sittings.

Love Frankie by Jacqueline Wilson, Nick Sharratt | Waterstones Love Frankie by Jacqueline Wilson, Nick Sharratt | Waterstones

A powerful and important love story, this book explores coming of age and coming out. I hope it will give girls everywhere the courage and freedom to follow their hearts - Good Housekeeping Jacqueline Wilson has been one of my favourite authors for the longest time and I have loved every book I have read by her. Her characters are usually going through some challenging times, and though there is never a magical "and they all lived happily ever after" tone to them, they always cheer me up. Maybe because as an author she doesn't make false promises, but she does make it clear that situations can improve.

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I may be 27, but I don’t think I’ll ever stop reading Jacqueline Wilson’s books. To me, they are so much more than “children’s literature”. She doesn’t shy away from very real and very difficult topics, yet maintains humour and lightness at the same time. The bully to lovers storyline is a trope that we all recognise and sometimes it can work however in this case there wasn't enough depth or work put in to their emotional development. In 2020, award-winning dame Jacqueline Wilson's book 'Love Frankie' was published and released, and many readers fell in love with it. I am one of those readers, and hopefully, I can pass that love on to you. Armistice Day: A Collection of Remembrance - Spark Interest and Educate Children about Historical Moments I have only been waiting for Jacqueline Wilson to openly write a lesbian protagonist for what, about 20 years? And despite the rating I wasn't disappointed. I looked forward to reading this book at any opportunity. The characters' responses to Frankie coming out as gay were nuanced and seemed mostly realistic. The romance here and the love interest weren't straightforward, and I did appreciate this too. The depiction of turmoil and confusion felt accurate for a coming-of-age story.