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A review by chroniclesofabookmum
Lola Rose by Jacqueline Wilson
4.0
“Well, I didn't need them. I didn't need anyone. I was Lola Rose. I just wished I looked more like my idea of Lola Rose.”
Jayni, lives with her mum, dad and brother Kenny. Life at home can be good, but sometimes it can be bad. Jayni's dad has a bad temper which results in him lashing out and physically abusing her mum. Following a particular assault after finding out they had won £10,000 on a scratch card, Jayni's mum has had enough so they flee their home and start up a new life in London. The family create false identities, Jayni is now Lola Rose, a glamorous name for the glamorous life that she truly desires. However, inevitably money runs out and reality kicks in, but what are they going to do next?
Jacqueline Wilson is an author that I avidly read as a child. There was not a book of hers that I had not read. I keenly remember Lola Rose being my favourite at the time. I decided that as an adult I was going to restart my collection and reread each one to see how I felt as an adult. I distinctly remember Wilson discussing important topics in each of her books which is something that interests me even more now I am an adult.
Lola Rose is no exception to key important themes being discussed. Key themes include; domestic violence, poverty and cancer. Very strong subjects that may affect children and young people, but subjects that they may not actually know a lot about. Domestic violence affects thousands of families on a daily basis, Jacqueline Wilson explores this topic sensitively and through the eyes of a child witnessing the abuse. She puts out the message that this is not okay, and that there is a way out if this happens. I really liked the way that Wilson approached this subject.
Cancer is also something that affects thousands of families, if not millions. It is explored again through the eyes of a child watching their parent struggling with the disease. Lola Rose struggles to cope with daily life whilst her mother is going through this. She contacts her Aunty Barbara in order to ask her to help her and her brother whilst her mother is away from the home in hospital. Whilst the subject of cancer is very much a side issue and not the main theme discussed I feel like it was an important one to include which was done sensitively and very well. I feel like the key message for this theme was that it is okay to ask for help, and that you do not have to suffer in silence. I feel like children reading this who may be going through this at home will be able to realise that they are not alone and there are people for them to talk to throughout their journey.
I really enjoy Jacqueline Wilsons writing style, I find that she is an author that makes things easy to follow and understand. Putting myself in the shoes of a child reader, I feel like I would understand this book and not struggle to follow any aspects of it. As a child the themes weren't as obvious to me and were in fact very subtle, however as an adult their purpose and importance screamed out to me.
Overall, I feel like this was such a good read and aimed at the correct audience. I would recommend reading this as a child and as an adult because there is definitely a distinct difference when it comes to reading experience.
Jayni, lives with her mum, dad and brother Kenny. Life at home can be good, but sometimes it can be bad. Jayni's dad has a bad temper which results in him lashing out and physically abusing her mum. Following a particular assault after finding out they had won £10,000 on a scratch card, Jayni's mum has had enough so they flee their home and start up a new life in London. The family create false identities, Jayni is now Lola Rose, a glamorous name for the glamorous life that she truly desires. However, inevitably money runs out and reality kicks in, but what are they going to do next?
Jacqueline Wilson is an author that I avidly read as a child. There was not a book of hers that I had not read. I keenly remember Lola Rose being my favourite at the time. I decided that as an adult I was going to restart my collection and reread each one to see how I felt as an adult. I distinctly remember Wilson discussing important topics in each of her books which is something that interests me even more now I am an adult.
Lola Rose is no exception to key important themes being discussed. Key themes include; domestic violence, poverty and cancer. Very strong subjects that may affect children and young people, but subjects that they may not actually know a lot about. Domestic violence affects thousands of families on a daily basis, Jacqueline Wilson explores this topic sensitively and through the eyes of a child witnessing the abuse. She puts out the message that this is not okay, and that there is a way out if this happens. I really liked the way that Wilson approached this subject.
Cancer is also something that affects thousands of families, if not millions. It is explored again through the eyes of a child watching their parent struggling with the disease. Lola Rose struggles to cope with daily life whilst her mother is going through this. She contacts her Aunty Barbara in order to ask her to help her and her brother whilst her mother is away from the home in hospital. Whilst the subject of cancer is very much a side issue and not the main theme discussed I feel like it was an important one to include which was done sensitively and very well. I feel like the key message for this theme was that it is okay to ask for help, and that you do not have to suffer in silence. I feel like children reading this who may be going through this at home will be able to realise that they are not alone and there are people for them to talk to throughout their journey.
I really enjoy Jacqueline Wilsons writing style, I find that she is an author that makes things easy to follow and understand. Putting myself in the shoes of a child reader, I feel like I would understand this book and not struggle to follow any aspects of it. As a child the themes weren't as obvious to me and were in fact very subtle, however as an adult their purpose and importance screamed out to me.
Overall, I feel like this was such a good read and aimed at the correct audience. I would recommend reading this as a child and as an adult because there is definitely a distinct difference when it comes to reading experience.