Lola Rose [Hardcover]

Fortunately for Jacqueline Wilson fans, her new books seem to come along a lot more regularly than JK Rowling's do, and for this latest, fantastic bittersweet slice of life offering they should again be grateful. Lola Rose is typical Wilson--a story of normal family strife, situations and feelings bound together with extraordinarily uplifting solutions that leave the reader with a tear in their eye and a smile on their lips.

Lola Rose is definitely one for her older readers, however. Jayni, her mum and little brother Kenny are forced to flee their family home when Jayni's dad starts hitting her too--as if it wasn't enough that he battered his wife about already. A desperate flight to London is made bearable when Jayni's mum wins £10,000 on a lottery scratch card and treats everybody to whatever they want. It's a chance to start again and have an adventure--and to forget. They even get to pick new names so that they can hide better. Jayni picks out "Lola Rose"--an exotic-sounding name she finds in one of the magazines she is so fond of cutting up and pasting into her scrapbooks.

But the lottery money doesn't last forever and Lola's mum finds it harder than she thought being away from her husband. However, it's definitely the start of something better for everyone despite a few hiccups along the way.

Jacqueline Wilson is a mega-star among children's authors. Her books are consistently unputdownable and Lola Rose exemplifies her skill at stirring the emotions in an unforgettable story that is sure to win her even more accolades. (Age 12 and over) --John McLay

" Has a rare gift for writing lightly and amusingly about emotional issues." -- "Bookseller"

A brilliantly crafted, frank and true-to-life story of modern family life from award-winning Jacqueline Wilson, featuring a special introduction from the author. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

When Jayni, her mum and little brother have to run away from her abusive father, it starts off as a big adventure. They slip out at night, go up to London by train and stay in a hotel. They even make up false identities to protect their secret and Jayni becomes the glamorous-sounding Lola Rose. But when the money runs out and reality bites, is it still a game they should play? Another brilliantly crafted story of real family life from the prize-winning, children's favourite, Jacqueline Wilson.

When life at home suddenly gets really frightening, Jayni, her mum and her little brother Kenny have to pack their bags and escape in the middle of the night. Although they are scared of being caught, travelling to London and staying in a hotel does seem like it might be a big adventure - at first. They even get to choose new names - and so Jayni becomes the glamorous, grown-up Lola Rose!
But Lola Rose's new life isn't quite as wonderful as her new name. She doesn't like Mum's new job, or Mum's new boyfriend, and she's not sure about the boys at school either. And when Mum has to go into hospital, Lola is forced to be much more grown up than she really feels.

A new story for older readers - a wonderfully moving tale of family life as it sometimes really is - from multi-award winner Jacqueline Wilson.

Jacqueline Wilson JACQUELINE WILSON is an extremely well-known and hugely popular author. THE ILLUSTRATED MUM was chosen as British Children's Book of the Year in 1999 and was winner of the Guardian Children's Fiction Award 2000. Jacqueline has won the prestigious Smarties Prize and the Children's Book Award for DOUBLE ACT, which was also highly commended for the Carnegie Medal. Jacqueline was awarded an OBE in 2002. * 'A brilliant young writer of wit and subtlety' THE TIMES * 'Hugely popular with seven to ten-year olds: she should be prescribed for all cases of reading reluctance' INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY * 'Has a rare gift for writing lightly and amusingly about emtional issues' BOOKSELLER