The Story of Tracy Beaker
2008/9 Schools Wikipedia Selection. Related subjects: Children's Books
| The Story of Tracy Beaker | |
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| Author | Jacqueline Wilson |
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| Illustrator | Nick Sharratt |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Children's |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
| Publication date | 14 February 1991 |
| Pages | 129 |
| ISBN | ISBN 0385400756 |
| Followed by | The Dare Game |
The Story of Tracy Beaker is a British children's book first published in 1991, written by Jacqueline Wilson and illustrated by Nick Sharratt.
The book is the "autobiography" of Tracy Beaker, a ten-year old girl. Tracy is living in a children's residential care home (nicknamed "the dumping ground") where she has been placed as a result of domestic violence. She is unhappy because she hasn't seen her mother for a long time, she doesn't get on well with the staff or the other children at the care home, (especially a girl called Justine) and has been rejected by the two couples who tried fostering her. From an adult's point of view, Tracy has "behavioural problems" (that is, she is rude and naughty) and she is always telling tall tales. A recurring story that Tracy likes to tell is that her mother is a Hollywood movie star, and that she is coming to collect her someday. Among other things, Tracy's autobiography details her life so far, her being "deprived and abused" in the children's home (for example, she is deprived of Mars Bars and Smarties) and the types of revenge she would like to take upon her enemies.
In 2002 the book was voted the winner of the Blue Peter People's Choice Award. Jacqueline Wilson has written two sequels to the book, The Dare Game and Starring Tracy Beaker.