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I'd say kids should definitely read it. As an adult, only read it if you really want to see Lily written better than in the first one! A bit of a boring book apart from that though. If you have really fond memories of the original, maybe give this one a miss unless your curiosity is killing you!
Lily, Daisy's older sister, decides that she is also going to throw a brilliant sleepover on the same night as Chloe's. How can they possibly compete? Tween friendship dramas, inclusive characters and best friends make this the perfect book for 8-12 year old readers. Lily is disabled and represented in a realistic and respectful manner. Her interactions with her friends and family using the sign / symbol language of Makaton ( called Key Word Sign in Australia and used by people all over the world who have speech delay or communication difficulties) and joy at being understood, included and able to make her wants known is palpable. Wilson said: “I’ve always been touched that so many young women have told me that Sleepovers was their favourite out of all my stories, and that it was their comfort book as they got older. I’ve often wondered what happened to Daisy and her non-verbal sister, Lily. At long last I’ve written a sequel, The Best Sleepover in The World, so we can all find out – and see how Lily comes into her own.” I think children reading Sleepovers today, should absolutely read The Best Sleepover In The World too. It will teach them, if they’re disabled, that they have a place in the world, and if they’re not, to be accepting of disability and differences. Double Act won the prestigious Smarties Medal and the Children’s Book Award as well as being highly commended for the Carnegie Medal. The Story of Tracy Beaker won the 2002 Blue Peter People’s Choice Award. Jacqueline Wilson wrote her first novel when she was nine years old, and she has been writing ever since. She is now one of Britain's bestselling and most beloved children's authors. She has written over 100 books and is the creator of characters such as Tracy Beaker and Hetty Feather. More than forty million copies of her books have been sold.Puffin are set to publish Jacqueline Wilson’s sequel to her novel Sleepovers, which was published 22 years ago. I absolutely loved it! I loved how Lily was a much more developed character this time around; last time, she was talked about a lot but we never really got to know her very well. But this time she was more developed and I absolutely loved how she communicated with those around her using Makatron. I had never heard of Makatron before this book so it was so good to learn about it!! I was quite looking forward to reading this when I first heard that Jacqueline Wilson was doing a sequel to her 2001 book Sleepovers, 22 years after the original, and was interested to see what it would be like. Despite seemingly continuing from where they left off, taking place only right after the original book, it included some present-day elements such as TikTok, which didn't seem to fit in with the timeline of things, being a continuity error at that, given that the previous book took place in 2001, long before TikTok and most social media platforms and apps for that matter existed, but then again I could see why it would be easier to include these elements into a story being written today, especially when involving kids with all the trends they following being social media centered.
If you're a fan of Jacqueline Wilson, I'm sure you won't be disappointed with this book, it was a fun little read during some annual leave from work. There’s going to be a swim in a luxury pool, a special makeover for every guest, and a real-life meeting with a social media superstar. I think this book is great for the target audience. For an adult who spent her childhood religiously reading Jacqueline Wilson, not so much.
Honestly the first one was a better book, but Lily was better written in this one. I might just be nostalgic for my own childhood though. As well as winning many awards for her books, including the Children’s Book of the Year, Jacqueline is a former Children’s Laureate, and in 2008 she was appointed a Dame. I also liked Lily's friend Natalie when she was introduced, though maybe she wasn't in the book for long enough. I think perhaps the book might have been better if the story had been told from Lily's perspective, or perhaps with alternating viewpoints from both Daisy and Lily. I think showing Natalie as having a different disability to Lily is actually really good as well, because disability looks different for every disabled person.
A sequel to Sleepovers, first published in 2001(!!) TBSITW follows on from the first book. The first chapter is a brief recap of the first book, which I was glad for, as its been a while! Daisy's former friend Chloe is throwing the world's best sleepover, and Daisy's sister, Lily, isn't going to let that happen,and they decide to throw their own sleepover on the same day, with their best friends and family. A moving look at friendship, sleepovers and siblings from the much loved, bestselling Jacqueline Wilson. Read more Details
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Former children’s laureate and author of more than 100 books, Wilson is one of Britain’s bestselling children’s authors. Known for characters like Tracy Beaker and Hetty Feather, she has legions of loyal fans both in the UK and throughout the world. Talk to a member of staff at the auditorium entrance if you have a disability that means you can’t queue, or you need extra time to take your seat. They can arrange priority entry for you as soon as the doors open. Jacqueline Wilson inspired my love of reading as a child and it is her I have to thank for my lifelong love for it. Sleepovers is one of the first Jacqueline Wilson books that I remember reading as a child - and rereading over and over again! So despite the fact that I am now 27 years old, I requested the ARC for this follow up on NetGalley and was delighted to be approved! 🤩 For step-free access from the Queen Elizabeth Hall Slip Road off Belvedere Road to the Queen Elizabeth Hall auditorium seating (excluding rows A to C) and wheelchair spaces in the Rear Stalls, plus Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer and the Purcell Room, please use the Queen Elizabeth Hall main entrance.