Best Friends

Product Information

Marigold in The Illustrated Mum tries to be a good parent, but frequently leaves her children alone all night while going out, and is often not able to take care of them when depressed. Marigold is somewhat aware of her tendency to neglect Star and Dolphin, and actually expresses concern that she might be a bad mother. Similarly, the epilogue of Baby Love takes place over 60 years after the main story with a now-elderly Laura describing how society's view of teen pregnancy has changed over her lifetime. Wilson's first book for children, Nobody's Perfect, involved a girl looking for her biological father. 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.

Treasure's grandmother in Secrets has six children, with the oldest at least in her late twenties and the youngest seven years old and younger than her own niece.

Hippie Parents: In Amber, Amber was raised in a commune by her hippie mother and is still there even though the '60s are long over. She is desperate for a "normal" home and lifestyle, which drives a lot of the story's conflict. In Falling Apart, Jan is strongly suggested to be a lesbian. Simon even admits he accepted a bet to ask out either her or Tina, but chose Tina because there's no way Jan would ever accept. Freudian Excuse: Selma from The Butterfly Club is a bully because her mother and stepfather abuse her.

In Katy, Katy states that she thinks her sister Clover is their father's favourite child, although he says he doesn't have one. Katie in The Suitcase Kid is implied to have eventually told the adults that Andy had left the house at night and was later mentioned to have been in tears, suggesting it was out of genuine worry. She also stopped taunting Andy when she realised she was serious about going out, telling her that she was just making things up to annoy her. Subverted in Love Frankie where, although never explicitly described as a lesbian, Frankie openly dates Sally for a while and firmly tells her family that she is only attracted to girls.

Tropes found in her works:

Honorary Uncle: Mona in Dancing The Charleston considers Mr Benjamin one. He is eventually revealed to be her real uncle. Not So Different" Remark: Ella in The Longest Whale Song overhears her friend Sally talking about how she's become mean and moody after her mother's coma and hears another girl Dory agree that her friend Martha was "just the same." She later learns that Martha has an abusive home life. While Ella's own stepfather and mother are not abusive, she recognises that Martha is probably feeling as miserable as herself, which causes her to make the effort to be friends instead of enemies.

Charlie's character Lottie in "The Lottie Project" had an alcoholic abusive father who kept the family in poverty and had recently died. Clover Moon, Rose Rivers, and The Lottie Project all contain examples of this due to large families being common in the Victorian era. Lola Rose's father, who, like Cookie's, was initially abusive to her mom and later to her as well. It is implied that this is the reason that Lola Rose's mother gets cancer. Star in The Illustrated Mum mentions having raised Dolphin for most of her life despite only being three or so years older than her. National Stereotypes: Referenced and averted in Secrets when India says that you might think her au pair, who's Australian, would be cheerful, suntanned and outgoing. She is actually sullen, pale-skinned and doesn't like talking to anyone - usually leaving India alone to do what she likes.

My Mum Tracy Beaker is told from the perspective of Jess, Tracy Beaker's daughter, but the story is still about Tracy Beaker all the same. Be Careful What You Wish For: At the end of Rose Rivers, it is being arranged for Rose to go to boarding school and get the education she wanted, but at the cost of losing her family. Even though Rose is getting what she wanted, she loses what she had. Karma Houdini: It's mainly due to Rule of Drama, but schools and teachers in Wilson's books get away with murder, at least by modern day standards. Apparently nobody thinks to lodge a complaint against bullying or abusive teachers, so the main characters just suffer in silence. Phoebe in The Primrose Railway Children is the closest to her father, being the youngest and fond of playing imaginary games unlike her teenage sister and Literal-Minded brother. She takes it the hardest when she learns he is in prison, during which time she briefly decides she never wants to see him again. Though not mentioned as physically abusive, Prudence's father in Love Lessons is extremely controlling and overbearing towards both his wife and daughters.