2023 EDIT: Part of my 2023 clear-up, of books I no longer like, or am no longer interested in, or remember well as standing out, or find as special anymore, or I otherwise will not miss.
[In this case, it is me letting go of all of Jacqueline Wilson's books; ultimately decided after rereading 'Hetty Feather'. A lot of them have not aged well, in my opinion, or are just baffling, shocking. I cannot abide the author's child abuse-excusing, fatphobic, internalised misogyny-filled, and sometimes ableist books for children. There are often other other problematic tropes and clichés, too. It doesn't matter if they're childhood favourites, or are "cute and harmless". If I can let go of 'Harry Potter', then I can do the same for these books, no problem. Goodbye, Jacqueline Wilson.]
Final Score: 3.5/5
2021 EDIT: 'Bad Girls' remains a nice, relatable little book for children. It is quite literally colourful - as in, colours and colour felt-tip pens are a theme. The ending is a little rushed and too-good-to-be-true-and-realistic, but it's not a big issue.
Bullying is a big issue.
I wonder how a book like this would be updated nowadays. How can people - kids - deal with bullying in the modern age? It seems to have gotten worse overtime.
Let us discuss it!
'Bad Girls' is also about all kinds of female relationships (plus a girl's platonic relationship with a boy at school, and at library creative writing sessions). Moreover, it's great to read a Jacqueline Wilson book without an abusive adult figure who gets away with everything.
What a heavy, yet sweet, cute, taste-the-rainbow kids' book.
Recommended for all ages.
Final Score: 4/5
Original Review:
'Bad Girls' is one of the most relatable, relevant, and important books I've ever read by Jacqueline Wilson.
Because of its subject matter of bullying.
Bullying - one of the worst things that happen to children, especially at school, where they are meant to learn about life and the outside world, and feel safe and secure, away from home. 'Bad Girls' highlights other vital themes and messages towards young people, like friendship, being an ally, foster care and its pros and cons and missteps, and expressing yourself creatively, and loving yourself and those who love and care for you back, without worrying what anyone thinks of you.
Ten-year-old Mandy White is viciously bullied at school by three girls, one of whom used to be her best friend. I won't name them here because they don't deserve names. Mandy wishes she weren't such a shy, nerdy and sensitive crybaby, but her imaginary self, Miranda Rainbow: a confident, fashionable girl who everyone loves. Mandy's parents are older people who are refreshingly loving and caring, though are old-fashioned and overprotective of her. She owns loads of stuffed monkeys in her room, and she loves colouring.
After being injured in an accident from trying to get away from the bullies (which does happen; put a stop to bullying, NOW), Mandy stays at home, and soon befriends a new neighbour, Tanya from foster care. Tanya is fourteen, and is fashionable and wears lots of make-up. She is cool and super friendly, not a bit mean to Mandy. She's like a real Miranda Rainbow.
The two become best friends who love each other to pieces. Mandy especially grows in confidence and self-esteem when around the older girl.
But is Tanya a bad influence, as Mandy notices her tendency to shoplift?
'Bad Girls' doesn't shy away from any hard issues in reality: Tanya mentions to Mandy that her mother committed suicide by topping herself, and she's not the only person Tanya knows who has committed suicide; juvenile delinquency is a major theme, as well as a reasoning behind it; there's discrimination against older people; learning to support someone when you see them being bullied; calling out slut shaming (didn't expect that - good on you, Ms Wilson); and the book shows that any action has consequences.
Bullying is certainly not easy to talk about, not easy to deal with, but this book nails the realities, in my opinion. I've been a victim of school bullying myself. Like Mandy, I also used to cry in the girls' toilets, and I've known kids like Mandy's bullies. And that ending - that new teacher, Miss Moseley, deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for her talk about bullying and handling the situation, and why people, young and old, like to victimize others.
Overall, 'Bad Girls' (there's a double meaning behind that title, I'm sure) is sad, heavy, yet colourful and life-affirming. Jacqueline Wilson's books are a ray of sunshine and hope in a dark, scary world for children.
There's also another character, a boy named Arthur King. Guess what his quirk and gimmick is? He is another nerdy boy-friend for the girl protagonist who helps her out along the way - these are very common in Jacqueline Wilson's books.
Plus, please, PLEASE tell me that Mandy and Tanya might potentially be more than friends when they grow up? Like Violet and Jasmine from 'Midnight'? Treasure and India from 'Secrets'? (I don't ship Mandy and Arthur). Mandy and Tanya care for each other deeply. Rainbows are one of 'Bad Girls''s motifs, and the last page is a drawing of the two girls on a rainbow together, holding hands...
I adore and relate to 'Bad Girls' so much. Every child should read it. It will make them better people, for a future world where bullying is not only unacceptable on any level, but practically non-existent.
Let us stop bullying. Now.
This will be my final classic Jacqueline Wilson book review. Now that I'm done talking about my favourites, I will soon check out what a handful of her newer books have to offer. Will I still like them? Will they be different, and improved, from what I've read, or will they be same-old? Or worse? I'm looking forward to finding out and judging for myself.
Final Score: 4/5
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