A great follow up
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Girls in Tears is the fourth (and hopefully not final) installment of Jacqueline Wilson's 'Girls' series and again focuses its attention on the lives, loves and laughs of best-pal trio, Ellie, Magda and Nadine.
In this latest installment, things are not going very swimmingly for our favourite lasses. Ellie's boyfriend Russell is being a pain in the behind, Nadine is acting like a careless air-head, Magda is upset over the death of her hamster, and Ellie's dad and step mum are at logger heads. While the book of course includes all the usual elements from previous 'Girls' installments (worries about looks, popularity, being cool, keeping your friends etc) all the major themes seem to come to a head in this latest one and it is to dramatic affect. You find out more about Ellie's problems at home, the real extent of her relationship with Russell and, yes, you even find out the real extent of her friendship with Nadine and Magda. This book is notable for being the first time the trio has a major falling out, and this makes for refreshing if not uncomfortable reading. I for one always found the trio's 'all for one and one for all' fondling to be a little bit far fetched throughout the series, having been a fourteen year old girl myself and knowing first hand how often young ladies - even self proclaimed 'bezzie mates' - bicker, argue and 'break friends'. The girls truly fall out in spectacular style for a number of reasons which I won't give away, but let's just say that Nadine is acting even more crazy, bitchy and angsty than usual, and Magda's boy-hungry antics finally get the better of her, to the cost of one of her best friends...
This is an eye opening fourth installment and does not disappoint. Wilson handles the friction between Ellie's parents particularly well, leading on nicely from previous books where Anna voices concerns about old man Allard's wandering eye. She also handles the serious subject of underage drinking very effectively indeed, and if any 13/14 year old honestly wants to get off their face at a party any time soon after reading about Ellie's experience then, well...I guess they just must not have read the book, eh? The hints at Ellie's growing sexual relationship with Russell is also delicately handled (no pun intended. Sorry, cheap shot!) as you never really get more than the vaguest hint at what the young couple might be doing, if anything. The nature of the actual physicality is left ambiguous though it is clear to the reader that Ellie is confused by the burgeoning sexual nature of her relationship, and is also left confused by her own nascent sexual desires. It's strong stuff, but treated in an exceptional manner. My only criticism of the book is...Russell. Sorry, folks, but I really can't stand him, and in some ways I don't think Jackie likes him much herself. I find it incredibly difficult to like or even mildly empathise with this randy little twit who bosses Ellie about, tries to pressure her into underage sexual dalliances, who steals her ideas, bad mouths her friends and...plot spoiler here...cheats on her. Perhaps Wilson made Russell this dislikeable on purpose, to give young girls a startling idea of what teenage boys are really like (or very likely to be like, if that makes sense). When Ellie gets back with him at the end I feel like screaming, though again, rather than encouraging girls to be subservient, perhaps Jackie is making a statement about following your heart, or maybe even commenting on how darn impressionable and silly teenage girls can be. Whatever, the boy deserves a slap!
An absolute must-read for Ellie, Magda and Nadine fans. Bring on the next one!
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AWESOME!
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The story plot of the book
This book is about a girl, called Ellie, her family (her dad, step mother and little brother), her best friends, Nadine and Magda, and her boyfriend called Russell. Follow her as she lives a life in tears: of joy, happiness, anger and sorrow.
About the author of the book
Jacqueline Wilson is one of my favourite authors and she wrote this book! She has her own personal collection of over 15,000 books and I have about a thirtieth of that!
About the awards and sequel for the book:
This book is part of Wilson's Girls series which includes Girls in Love, Girls out Late, Girls under Pressure and Girls in Tears (this book).This book is the winner of the Children's Book of the Year 2002 and the WH Smith Children's Book of the Year.
My awards for the book
I would rate this brilliant book 10/ 10; I really, really enjoyed this book, to prove that I really, really enjoyed this book I couldn't put it down until the very end! I would recommend it to anyone who really likes Jacqueline Wilson's books - just like me, especially older girls.
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My favourite book
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It was a great book and i thought it was a bit mean when one of her friends the girls friends kissed her boyfriend. But i was glad when they were friends again. It was the best book i ever read so far.
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Girls in Tears
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I read this book 6 months ago and was amazed at how in touch with young girls' feeling Jaqueline Wilson is. I am 14 years old and could relate to every happiness and turmoil in the book. Congratulations Jaqueline Wilson! Definately a must-read.
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The anna reveiw
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I think girls in tears is a great story but not the best from the series.My favourite was girls under pressure and is a 'must read' for 10-14 yr old girls. Girls in tears is a dramatic book with lots happening. Read it if you have the chance.
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