The best Jacqueline Wilson books, ranked<\/h2>\n\n\n\n1. The Story of Tracy Beaker<\/h3>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/readingmate.co.uk\/littlereads\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebookupload-1659618890636-195x300.jpeg\")
<\/div>The Story of Tracy Beaker<\/p>
Jacqueline Wilson<\/span><\/span>Age 8<\/span><\/span>Friendship<\/span><\/div><\/div>›<\/span><\/a>\n\n\n\nI feel like she needs no introduction but in case you didn’t grow up HATING Justine and praying Tracy would be whisked away from the ‘dumping ground’ (AKA the foster home), here’s a little bit about it…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tracy is ten, lives in a children’s home, and is writing a book about herself because nobody else would get it right. She’s funny, furious and desperate for a real home, even if she’d never admit it to your face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Decades on, this is still the one to hand over first. It’s the whole Wilson formula in one book. You laugh, then something catches in your throat, then you laugh again. Age 8 up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, if you like to indulge in a bit of 00’s nostalgia (like myself), I recommend the TV series. It’s a good representation of the book(s) and also hits all of the right 00’s kid references.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. The Illustrated Mum<\/h3>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/readingmate.co.uk\/littlereads\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1714745746_6634f1928fab5-195x300.jpg\")
<\/div>The Illustrated Mum<\/p>
Jacqueline Wilson<\/span><\/span>Age 11<\/span><\/span>Real Life<\/span><\/div><\/div>›<\/span><\/a>\n\n\n\nDolphin thinks her mum Marigold, covered in colourful tattoos, is the most beautiful woman alive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her big sister Star has stopped believing it. When Marigold’s moods finally tip into a breakdown, the girls have to work out who is actually looking after whom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This one is a personal favourite of mine. But it’s also one of Wilson’s heaviest, so save it for a mature 10 or 11 year old rather than the 8 year old who loved Sleepovers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Sleepovers<\/h3>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/readingmate.co.uk\/littlereads\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1714984302_6638956e8dedc-195x300.jpg\")
<\/div>Sleepovers<\/p>
Jacqueline Wilson<\/span><\/span>Age 8<\/span><\/span>Friendship<\/span><\/div><\/div>›<\/span><\/a>\n\n\n\nDaisy is the new girl in a friendship group whose initials run A to E, and the birthday sleepovers are coming round one by one. She’s dreading her own. Partly because Chloe can be VERY unfriendly, mostly because she’s worried what the others will make of her older sister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Short chapters and a story that feels like it happened at your child’s own school. The easiest one for 7 and 8 year olds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Lola Rose<\/h3>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/readingmate.co.uk\/littlereads\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebookupload-1660114435012-196x300.jpeg\")
<\/div>Lola Rose<\/p>
Jacqueline Wilson<\/span><\/span>Age 9<\/span><\/span>Real Life<\/span><\/div><\/div>›<\/span><\/a>\n\n\n\nWhen her mum wins \u00a310,000 on a scratchcard, Jayni’s family runs. A new city, new names, a fresh start far away from her dad, and Jayni becomes Lola Rose. Then the money starts to run out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s about being brave when the grown-ups are struggling, and children adore it. Goodreads voters rank it her number one, and I’m not going to argue with that. For 9 to 11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Dustbin Baby<\/h3>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/readingmate.co.uk\/littlereads\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1714987214_6638a0ce09c6b-217x300.jpg\")
<\/div>Dustbin Baby<\/p>
<\/div>The Story of Tracy Beaker<\/p>
I feel like she needs no introduction but in case you didn’t grow up HATING Justine and praying Tracy would be whisked away from the ‘dumping ground’ (AKA the foster home), here’s a little bit about it…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tracy is ten, lives in a children’s home, and is writing a book about herself because nobody else would get it right. She’s funny, furious and desperate for a real home, even if she’d never admit it to your face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Decades on, this is still the one to hand over first. It’s the whole Wilson formula in one book. You laugh, then something catches in your throat, then you laugh again. Age 8 up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, if you like to indulge in a bit of 00’s nostalgia (like myself), I recommend the TV series. It’s a good representation of the book(s) and also hits all of the right 00’s kid references.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. The Illustrated Mum<\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>The Illustrated Mum<\/p>
Jacqueline Wilson<\/span><\/span>Age 11<\/span><\/span>Real Life<\/span><\/div><\/div>›<\/span><\/a>\n\n\n\nDolphin thinks her mum Marigold, covered in colourful tattoos, is the most beautiful woman alive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her big sister Star has stopped believing it. When Marigold’s moods finally tip into a breakdown, the girls have to work out who is actually looking after whom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This one is a personal favourite of mine. But it’s also one of Wilson’s heaviest, so save it for a mature 10 or 11 year old rather than the 8 year old who loved Sleepovers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Sleepovers<\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>Sleepovers<\/p>
Jacqueline Wilson<\/span><\/span>Age 8<\/span><\/span>Friendship<\/span><\/div><\/div>›<\/span><\/a>\n\n\n\nDaisy is the new girl in a friendship group whose initials run A to E, and the birthday sleepovers are coming round one by one. She’s dreading her own. Partly because Chloe can be VERY unfriendly, mostly because she’s worried what the others will make of her older sister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Short chapters and a story that feels like it happened at your child’s own school. The easiest one for 7 and 8 year olds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Lola Rose<\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>Lola Rose<\/p>
Jacqueline Wilson<\/span><\/span>Age 9<\/span><\/span>Real Life<\/span><\/div><\/div>›<\/span><\/a>\n\n\n\nWhen her mum wins \u00a310,000 on a scratchcard, Jayni’s family runs. A new city, new names, a fresh start far away from her dad, and Jayni becomes Lola Rose. Then the money starts to run out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s about being brave when the grown-ups are struggling, and children adore it. Goodreads voters rank it her number one, and I’m not going to argue with that. For 9 to 11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Dustbin Baby<\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>Dustbin Baby<\/p>
<\/div>The Illustrated Mum<\/p>
Dolphin thinks her mum Marigold, covered in colourful tattoos, is the most beautiful woman alive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her big sister Star has stopped believing it. When Marigold’s moods finally tip into a breakdown, the girls have to work out who is actually looking after whom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This one is a personal favourite of mine. But it’s also one of Wilson’s heaviest, so save it for a mature 10 or 11 year old rather than the 8 year old who loved Sleepovers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Sleepovers<\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>Sleepovers<\/p>
Jacqueline Wilson<\/span><\/span>Age 8<\/span><\/span>Friendship<\/span><\/div><\/div>›<\/span><\/a>\n\n\n\nDaisy is the new girl in a friendship group whose initials run A to E, and the birthday sleepovers are coming round one by one. She’s dreading her own. Partly because Chloe can be VERY unfriendly, mostly because she’s worried what the others will make of her older sister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Short chapters and a story that feels like it happened at your child’s own school. The easiest one for 7 and 8 year olds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Lola Rose<\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>Lola Rose<\/p>
Jacqueline Wilson<\/span><\/span>Age 9<\/span><\/span>Real Life<\/span><\/div><\/div>›<\/span><\/a>\n\n\n\nWhen her mum wins \u00a310,000 on a scratchcard, Jayni’s family runs. A new city, new names, a fresh start far away from her dad, and Jayni becomes Lola Rose. Then the money starts to run out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s about being brave when the grown-ups are struggling, and children adore it. Goodreads voters rank it her number one, and I’m not going to argue with that. For 9 to 11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Dustbin Baby<\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>Dustbin Baby<\/p>
<\/div>Sleepovers<\/p>
Daisy is the new girl in a friendship group whose initials run A to E, and the birthday sleepovers are coming round one by one. She’s dreading her own. Partly because Chloe can be VERY unfriendly, mostly because she’s worried what the others will make of her older sister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Short chapters and a story that feels like it happened at your child’s own school. The easiest one for 7 and 8 year olds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Lola Rose<\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>Lola Rose<\/p>
Jacqueline Wilson<\/span><\/span>Age 9<\/span><\/span>Real Life<\/span><\/div><\/div>›<\/span><\/a>\n\n\n\nWhen her mum wins \u00a310,000 on a scratchcard, Jayni’s family runs. A new city, new names, a fresh start far away from her dad, and Jayni becomes Lola Rose. Then the money starts to run out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s about being brave when the grown-ups are struggling, and children adore it. Goodreads voters rank it her number one, and I’m not going to argue with that. For 9 to 11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Dustbin Baby<\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>Dustbin Baby<\/p>
<\/div>Lola Rose<\/p>
When her mum wins \u00a310,000 on a scratchcard, Jayni’s family runs. A new city, new names, a fresh start far away from her dad, and Jayni becomes Lola Rose. Then the money starts to run out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s about being brave when the grown-ups are struggling, and children adore it. Goodreads voters rank it her number one, and I’m not going to argue with that. For 9 to 11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Dustbin Baby<\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>Dustbin Baby<\/p>
<\/div>Dustbin Baby<\/p>