Cookie
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4.5 • 232 Ratings
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- £6.99
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- £6.99
Publisher Description
Beauty Cookson is no beauty. She's a plain, timid girl who constantly feels inferior to the super-confident, snooty girls at school. Worse than the teasing in the playground, though, is the unpredictable, hurtful criticism from her father. Beauty and her meek, sweet mother live in uneasy fear of his fierce rages, sparked whenever they break one of his fussy house rules.
Eventually, after an unbearable birthday party and the very real threat of Dad's out-of-control temper, Mum and Beauty run away. Finding themselves in a quiet, idyllic seaside village, their new-found freedom and a moment of culinary inspiration give them a hobby, an income and even a new nickname for Beauty. Can they begin a happier, sweeter life - without Dad?
A charming, page-turning and heart-warming story from this beloved author.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Popular British author Wilson's latest may be a tough sell a novel that looks cheery, with Sharratt's trademark cartoonish illustrations, but contains much darkness. The unfortunately named Beauty Cookson lives with her abusive, obnoxious, financially successful father, Gerry, and her saintly mother, Dilly, his third wife. Both mother and daughter live in fear of setting off Dad, who turns his volcanic temper on them at the slightest provocation. Beauty, a talented student with plain looks, is also unmercifully teased at school. The villains are without nuance Dad has not a single redeeming quality beyond his income (he abhors art and homemade cookies). Beauty's fear is palpable and sad, but her method of comforting herself by having imaginary conversations with a TV show host (think Blue's Clues with a rabbit) may make her seem delusional. After nearly 200 pages of verbally terrorizing his wife and daughter, Dad does something so horrible that Mom finally flees with Beauty. The happily-ever-after ending seems pat given the gritty stuff that's gone before, but if Wilson's aim was to write a novel that makes a powerful argument for divorce, she's succeeded. Ages 9 12.
Customer Reviews
Cookie
I like this book but I was a bit disappointed the characters kept changing.
Lovely and Amazing
This book is an inspiration to girls and Jacqueline Wilson is a very inspirational writer! She writes about very difficult things which for girls and boys that have been through tough times can be very inspirational and give them a little guidance. This book is a very heartwarming an genuine story that the words are so cleverly woven that it makes you feel like your there! It's well worth your money! Simply amazing book!
Good Book 👍🏻
What is it about Jacqueline Wilson, that just inspires me to be a writer myself? JW truly writes like no other, and her books are the only ones I do not struggle to read and process (thanks to ADHD).
The main character of Beauty lives with her lovely mum and abusive dad, and the story is about how they leave him and start a new life for themselves. I feel this book would bring a lot of hope to kids in a similar situation. However, it is also a rather triggering read perhaps for some.
There is a particularly awful animal death in this book too, which deeply disturbed me as a child, and I wouldn’t want anyone to read this book without pre-warning that this happens. After all, we do so hate when beloved fur babies die!
Another part of the book I had a problem with was the argument between Beauty and her mum. I felt the mum was behaving very out of character.
I feel JW books in general, she doesn’t really put much effort into the last two chapters and tries to wrap the story up quickly. After reading a long and emotional monologue it’s rather frustrating, and always leaves me wanting more when the book is finished. However I think perhaps JW does this deliberately to encourage people (especially kids) to come up with their own stories. Well, Jacqueline, it’s worked! Because I read your books religiously as a child and I'm an aspiring author as an adult!