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: Well, that didn't take me long. An half an hour read.
Such a sweet little classic JW tale. About a little girl, her mum, her new stepfamily, a great-gran, and lots of dolls! I like to collect stuff like that, too. Girl power merch. Any collector (and child psychologist) might find 'Lizzie Zipmouth' endearing.
But that line, though: 'Boys are allowed to be girly.' - page 15 (Lizzie is talking about her youngest stepbrother, Jake, who plays with thirteen Beanie Babies and likes tea parties and knitting). Oh boy. How tone deaf and clueless can you be about your own society and culture? I hope Jake is given the chance to grow up to be his full, healthy, happy and safe self.
Final Score: 4/5
Original Review:
'Lizzie Zipmouth' is short. Ridiculously short, at barely eighty pages. And it is so cute and endearing.
Little Lizzie refuses to speak after she and her mum move in with her new stepdad and younger stepbrothers. She wants it to be just her and her loving mum, and is traumatised after her first stepdad turned out to be abusive. So it's not like she's being a brat for petty and selfish reasons, or for no reason at all.
But Lizzie might be able to find her voice again after bonding with her initially-strict step-great-grandmother, who owns a huge doll collection.
Gender roles are somewhat played with. Lizzie is unapologetically girly, even though her mum doesn't want her to be, and her stepbrother Jake owns Beanie Babies. There is nothing wrong with liking what you like, though I think Jake is expected to grow out of playing with stuffed toys. Lizzie's other stepbrother, Rory, still likes football.
'Lizzie Zipmouth', as well as a story about self-confidence, is about helping others, and it teaches children not to quickly judge people. I also greatly appreciate its message of kindness and understanding towards the elderly. It's nice, pink, cute, and can be read in under an hour.
As an intricate addition and edition, the porcelain dolls are cool. It's fine to be feminine.
Final Score: 4/5
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