Tracy Beaker really is an annoying, horrible and whiny kid, and it was insufferable being stuck in her stuck-up head for 245 pages (well, 241, actually, as unfathomably my copy of the book had a few pages missing around the beginning, even though it was brand new. Not that it mattered, anyway; the less time with Tracy Beaker and her thoughts, the better). I said it best even in my first, more positive review: '[Tracy is] like Pippi Longstocking except 1000 times more selfish and 1000 times less talented and fun to be around. She's cruel, narcissistic and a bully; with an ego the size of the Pacific Ocean'.
I don't think I've ever read about a more selfish, thoughtless, egotistical, inconsiderate, tantrum-throwing, pathetic, reckless and borderline criminal child protagonist in any other book. Tracy is a manipulative bully to boot. She's not tough, she's just a brat. So there's no sympathy to be had from me towards this foster child.
'The Dare Game' also has a confusing timeline at first, muddling up events and what's supposed to be happening in the present, because future Tracy sometimes spoils things.
There is also a really, really uncomfortable part about Tracy and a bullied kid she just met, Alexander, whom she bullies, too - involving Alexander being made fun of in his schools' showers, Tracy daring him to say stuff to get him to stand up for himself, and comparing middle school boys' penis sizes. I won't dare (oh god) elaborate any further. I know it's just kids messing around, but seriously, WTF? Why did that have to be there? Who let that pass and allowed it to be published?
That moment is bad enough, but on the same page, Tracy forces Alexander to be her friend. Here is how the exchange goes (bold highlighted text mine):
'"[...] I dare you. There. Now you've got to say it. If you want to be my friend."
Alexander looked puzzled. "Are we friends?"
The cheek of it!
"Don't you want to be friends?" I demanded.
Alexander nodded. Wisely.
"Right. So we're friends. And we'll meet up again tomorrow?" I said.
Same time. Same place. He'd better be there. I hope he organizes some more refreshments.' - page 85
Our heroine, ladies and gentlemen and nonbinary persons.
There's no question that Tracy Beaker is a bully who browbeats and threatens those weaker than she is. She does this to practically everybody, actually. Simply put: if you don't do what she wants you to do, then you are her enemy deserving torment. Lord help you if you don't meet her extravagantly high expectations, and don't bow to her every demand and whim all the time. Or else she'll let you know it, through shouting and wailing, and even physical violence occasionally.
Why should I care about her, again?
Then there's this line by the character Football (we never find out his real name, and it is so silly and awkward with everyone calling him that, like it is his real name and it's totally normal): '"Women footballers are rubbish"' (page 114). He doesn't get called out on it. So, yeah, *raises middle finger, and it stays permanently attached to this book*.
'The Dare Game' - I see the light, and I'm glad to be rid of the book at last.
Final Score: 2/5
'The Dare Game' is fun yet sad at the same time. It highlights the difficulties of foster care, of raising problematic children, and how being related to someone by blood does not mean ownership or love.
Tracy Beaker can be a pain - I think of her as like Pippi Longstocking except 1000 times more selfish and 1000 times less talented and fun to be around. She's cruel, narcissistic and a bully; with an ego the size of the Pacific Ocean. But she is a young foster kid who's had a hard life and is tired of authoritative adults dictating her. She appears to be an anti-Pollyanna, or anti-Little Orphan Annie. In 'The Dare Game', Tracy is no longer in a care home (but will that last?), and she makes two male friends on her journey towards finding out what parental love, friendship and devotion really mean.
I don't know, 'The Dare Game' was one of my favourite books as a kid, despite having one of the most annoying protagonists in children's literature. It is almost painfully realistic, and bittersweet, yet playful and creative. The characters are well-rounded, dynamic and colourful. Despite its harrowing moments and themes, it contains funny scenes as well. It's a good balance; Jacqueline Wilson doesn't talk down to her target audience. She doesn't shy away from the "life is hard" message to children. But life has its wonderful, worthwhile moments too.
A sequel that can be read as a standalone, 'The Dare Game' is a rollercoaster; a sad clown; a juggling gut-puncher; a faraway light in a teary-eyed gloom.
Final Score: 4/5
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