Sibling Yin-Yang: Laura's mother Kathleen and her much younger sister Susannah are polar opposites which appears to be why their relationship is so strained, with Laura's mother being very traditional and having a negative attitude towards anything seen as too "modern" or non-traditional, such as fashion, styles, lifestyles etc, which is why she dislikes Susannah so much, because unlike her she is very modern and trendy in every way, and while realising it isn't ideal, Susannah does not at all condemn Laura for having a baby so young out of wedlock. Growing Up Sucks: Laura doesn't want to grow up and even plays with the much younger Moira in an attempt to cling onto her childhood. 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. Bilingual Bonus: It's heavily implied that Leon asks for permission to have sex with Laura, but she misunderstands it as him asking if they can cuddle as she barely understands French.

Baby Love by Jacqueline Wilson | Waterstones

However, in the 1960s women who are unmarried or young are treated very different to today for becoming pregnant. I can’t understand how JW can completely understand teenage anxiety and make her characters come to life in such a fluid way. Sheltered by her overprotective parents and eager to fit in with new best friend Nina and appear more grown up, you can see how things spiral out of control. But I don't think there's anything wrong with happy endings, especially in books for younger audiences. Abusive Parents: Laura's mother slaps her a couple of times, even if she's immediately apologetic about it.

They were my safety blanket and I look back on them with fondness and comfort , and was eager to read one now I’m in my early 30s with the view of picking up from where I left off but my goodness this book is not a comfort blanket. However, it was good for Laura and I think Wilson did a great job of showing other not so great endings for other women in the book for us to believe that Laura’s could be one of the good ones.

Baby Love: Everything You Need to Know about Your New Baby

At only 14, still very naive and incredibly homesick, Laura meets other girls her mother would label "Rough," or "Tarts" or "Unsuitable," who in fact are caring, and friendly.The second half of the novel introduces new characters all caught in the same situation and all thrown into the pain and turmoil of forced adoptions. Leon ends up having sex with Laura, it’s a blurred line of consent as we realise Laura doesn’t actually know what is happening and is therefore never able to say yes or no. I have so many positive memories of reading her books as a child (and even rereading them as an adult) and I’m so excited to read a book set for young adults and one of a more adult and sensitive subject too.

Baby Love by Jacqueline Wilson | Goodreads Baby Love by Jacqueline Wilson | Goodreads

Set in the 1960’s, Jacqueline Wilson transports you back in time, to the days of Elvis and the ‘swinging sixties’. Truly moving, true-to-life, rich in detail that evokes the 1960s setting, and suffused with compassion, the beautiful afterword sees Laura in her seventies, reflecting on the courageous, life-changing decision she made all those years ago, thanks to the help of her forward-thinking aunt. With over 30 years of hands-on experience with mothers and babies, Robin Barker knows exactly the kind of information parents are looking for.She now has grandchildren and is glad that the stigma around teenage pregnancy has changed so that young mothers are supported and that adopted children are able to get in contact with their birth mothers if they want to. Premessa: Jaqueline Wilson e´ l´autrice che mi ha accompagnato per tutta la mia infanzia, quindi il mio giudizio e´ influenzato da il mio personale attaccamento nostalgico. Cosmetic Catastrophe: Laura puts on mascara and rouge when going to the movies with Nina and Daniel, and initially struggles with making it look right. Trying to keep up with Nina gets increasingly difficult as they venture out to cafes and movies in their school holidays. i started reading it this afternoon and when i say it was unputdownable i literally mean that i read for 3 hours straight and finished it.