Tracy Beaker first appeared 27 years ago in hugely popular books that also inspired successful TV shows. She was a child who grew up in a care home known as "the dumping ground", but she returns in October in a new work by her creator, Jacqueline Wilson, imagining her life as a single mother on a "rough" London housing estate.In anticipation of this event, ARB Books have put together a collection of Jacqueline Wilson's most popular books. They're sure to appeal to today's children, as much as they have to earlier generations."When I realised just how long ago it was since I wrote the first Tracy Beaker book, I thought: if we were in real time, Tracy herself would be in her 30s," said Jacqueline, in an interview with The Observer."And I've always thought that, even though Tracy had lots of problems in her life and a pretty rubbish mum who was never there for her, Tracy herself would be a good mum, no matter what."The new story will be told from the perspective of Tracy's nine-year-old daughter, Jess. It's written for children aged seven to 11, but should also appeal to teenagers and adults who enjoyed the original series.Known for tackling topics such as mental health, bullying and adoption, Jacqueline continues to confront difficult issues in her latest work. Apart from being a single mother, Tracy is unemployed and struggling financially while living in a housing association flat. But she's resilient and feisty, so we imagine she'll find ways to cope."It's stimulating to think about how people develop as they get older," said Jacqueline. "Tracy has been a character that's haunted me. She's the sort of person who sticks in your mind."Why not take a look at our pack of Jacqueline Wilson's brilliant titles?Jacqueline Wilson Accelerated Reader PackThis selection of 66 books from Jacqueline Wilson are all quizzed for Accelerated Reader.
