The Illustrated Mum [Paperback]

Josie Lawrence reads Jacqueline Wilson's The Illustrated Mum in this unabridged four-cassette audio book.

Jacqueline Wilson has the ability to tackle difficult subjects with spirit and affection but without a trace of sentimentality and without patronising the reader or her characters. This always makes her books rewarding and emotionally satisfying.

In The Illustrated Mum, Wilson introduces us to Dolphin, a young girl living in the wake of her tattooed mother Marigold's manic depression. With her older sister, Star, on the brink of adulthood and facing the traumas of adolescence and her mum sinking further and further into her illness, Dol has no-one to turn to. The constant bullying at school causes her to withdraw into her own world and she begins to cope by fantasising that she is a witch.

Far from being depressing or overwhelming, The Illustrated Mum features another of Wilson's classic heroines. Dol deals with the extraordinary circumstances of her life with a mixture of humour and quiet intelligence that blossoms as the situation reaches its inevitable climax. The story is suitable for ages nine and above and the running time is six hours and 25 minutes. --Susan Harrison --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Anything written by Jacqueline Wilson is a pleasure to read. Her unique talent for dealing with difficult subjects without a trace of sentimentality, without patronising either the reader or her characters, with spirit and with affection, always makes the arrival of a new book bearing her name a rewarding and emotionally satisfying experience.

In The Illustrated Mum, Wilson introduces us to Dolphin, a young girl living in the wake of her tattooed mother Marigold's manic depression. With her older sister, Star, on the brink of adulthood and facing the traumas of adolescence, and her mum sinking further and further into her illness, Dol has no-one to turn to when the constant bullying at school causes her to withdraw into her own world, and she begins to cope with the reality of her life by fantasising that she is a witch.

Far from being a depressing and overwhelming read, Wilson introduces her readers to another of her classic resourceful heroines who deals with the extraordinary circumstances of her life with a mixture of humour and quiet intelligence which blossoms as the situation reaches its inevitable climax.

The Illustrated Mum is Jacqueline Wilson at her very best, introducing a difficult subject to young readers with a compassion that initiates an understanding of a very serious problem without condescension or scare tactics. (Ages 9 and over) --Susan Harrison

" A marvelous, poignant tale. . . . Jacqueline's best yet." -- "Daily Telegraph" (UK)
" Disturbingly perceptive and provocative." -- "The Guardian" (UK)
" A powerfully portrayed, sometimes shocking but ultimately uplifting story, this is a book not to be missed." -- "The Bookseller" (UK)
Winner of the Children's Book of the Year Award in England

"From the Hardcover edition."

A powerful novel of two sisters who have to cope with living in a very dysfunctional household where their tattoo-crazy mum has real difficulties in coping

Dolphin adores her mother: she’s got wonderful clothes, bright hair and vivid tattoos all over her body. She definitely lives a colourful life. Dolphin’s older sister, Star, also loves her but is beginning to wonder if staying with a mum whose temper can be as flashy as her body-art is the best thing for the girls…

Star used to love Marigold, love me, love our life together. We three were the colourful ones, like the glowing pictures inked all over Marigold... Covered from head to foot with glorious tattoos, Marigold is the brightest, most beautiful mother in the world. That's what Dolphin thinks (she just wishes her beautiful mum wouldn't stay out partying all night or go weird now and then.) Her older sister, Star, isn't so sure any more. She loves Marigold too, but sometimes she just can't help wishing she were more normal... A powerful and memorable tale for older readers.

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