Cookie

By Jacqueline Wilson

Book Overview

Beauty Cookson isn't beautiful. Her father chose her name because he wants her to be a confident, popular girl. She tries to fit in, but she's plain and awkward. All the girls at school make fun of her and have nicknamed her Ugly. Her mother thinks she needs a fun, creative nickname, something like . . . Cookie But kids at school can't just be told to call her Cookie. And, even worse, her Dad doesn't approve. His already bad temper reaches frightening new heights. Will Cookie find the strength to stand up to her dad? And will she find a way to be the person she wants to be?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312642903
• ISBN13: 9780312642907
• Release Date: October 2010
• Publisher: St. Martins Press-3PL
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.2" x 7.5"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

bunnies and cookies

Another good read from Jacqueline Wilson. Cookie contains many of the themes found in previous books - the abusive father, mean girls at school, and cooking, lots of cooking. Ms Wilson clearly has a fondness for food (I mean writing wise, as she has a beautiful figure :)) The father here is emotionally abusive. His language is a constant stream of criticisms designed to erode the confidence of Beauty and her mother. The father is very materialistic, constantly concerned with 'keeping up with the Joneses'. He regards Beauty and her mother much like possessions, concerned with how their physical beauty reflects on his own image. There are a couple of incidents of physical abuse as Beauty's mother reaches breaking point. There are lots of good opportunities for discussion with girls who read this book about emotional abuse and learning to identify it. Another discussion point is why Beauty's father is the way he is. He clearly feels extremely inadequate himself, constantly striving to make more money and have a 'happy home' with a beautiful wife and daughter. Why does materialism breed such misery? Another theme is the issue of body image, a timely subject in this age of size zero. My favourite part of the book was when Beauty and her mother arrive at the seaside town. Mike was a real sweetie. My least favourite part was the discovery of the mutilated rabbit corpse ... who knew Jackie had such a gruesome streak? Perhaps there was some metaphor in the fact that the rabbit's head was missing that I didn't catch on to. Perhaps it represented what would become of Beauty and Dilys self-esteem if they remained with Beauty's father?