Girls in Tears is a 2002 young adult novel, written by Dame Jacqueline Wilson and illustrated by Nick Sharratt. It is the fourth installment in Wilson's Girls series and a direct sequel to Girls Out Late (1999). The plot revolves around Ellie and her two friends, Magda and Nadine, with all three of them going through personal emotional struggles. The novel received positive reviews and won the 2003 National Book Awards Children's Book of the Year. In 2024, it was announced that a sequel, Think Again, would be released later that year.
 The 2016 edition cover | |
| Author | Jacqueline Wilson |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Nick Sharratt |
| Language | English |
| Series | Girls |
| Genre | Young adult |
| Publisher | Corgi Books |
Publication date | 2002 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | Print (hardback, Ebook & paperback) and audiobook |
| Pages | 226 (2016 edition) |
| ISBN | 9780552557436 |
| Preceded by | Girls Out Late |
| Followed by | Think Again |
Background
editGirls in Tears was published in 2002 by Doubleday, written by Dame Jacqueline Wilson and illustrated by Nick Sharratt.[1] It is the fourth book in Wilson's "Girls" series, following Girls in Love (1997), Girls Under Pressure (1998) and Girls out Late (1999).[2][3] The series were adapted into a TV show, Girls in Love, which ran from 2003 to 2005.[4] Girls in Tears was originally the last book in the series, but it was announced in March 2024 that Wilson would publish a sequel to the series, titled Think Again.[3]
Premise
editIn the novel, best friends Ellie, Magda and Nadine are struggling with personal issues, which is testing their friendships. Ellie, the narrator of the novel, is struggling in her relationship with her boyfriend Russell, whilst Magda is grieving the death of her pet hamster, who her friends did not know about. Meanwhile, Nadine gets frustrated over Ellie and Magda warning her about meeting up with a man she has met online.[2]
Reception
edit
In October 2002, Girls in Tears reached number one on the "Children's bestsellers" chart compiled by Nielsen BookScan.[5] The novel won the 2003 National Book Awards Children's Book of the Year.[6]
A writer from Publishers Weekly called the novel an "easygoing, humorous tale", whilst a review from Newcastle Upon Tyne Evening Chronicle wrote that they would recommend it to "all teenage girls".[2] A writer from School Library Journal noted that it would appeal to many girl readers dealing with relationship issues.[2] A reviewer from CBBC Newsround praised the novel, calling it a "fun easy read" and joking that they almost missed their bus stop due to their head being "so deep in the story".[7] They believed that the "really believable" characters were the highlight of the novel, and called Ellie's insecurities "spot on".[7] However, they believed that the reveal of Ellis' true identity was predictable.[7]
Jessica Brunt from BuzzFeed ranked Girls in Tears as her ninth favourite Jacqueline Wilson book, writing, "Waiting for a new 'Girls' book to be released was the '00s equivalent of shutting your laptop on a Friday evening and heading out for a wine...priceless."[8] Brunt noted that the plot involved breakups and reduced communication in the characters' friendships, and revealed that she found the novel less "rebellious" than its prequels.[8] Dusty Baxter-Wright ranked Girls in Tears as the most "distressing" Jacqueline Wilson novel, adding that the entire "Girls" series was "INTENSE".[9] Courtney Pochin from Metro noted how the book "features heart-break all round", and revealed how fans had been wanting Wilson to write a follow up novel to the series.[10]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Jacqueline Wilson GIRLS IN TEARS First Edition". Books and Records. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d Girls in Tears. Penguin Random House. 6 October 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ a b Mensah, Katelyn (21 March 2024). "Jacqueline Wilson announces adult Girls series sequel". Radio Times. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ "Jacqueline Wilson to release new adult sequel to her Girls series". Forres Gazette. Highland News and Media Ltd. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ "Top 10 children's fiction". The Bookseller. No. 5049. 25 October 2002. p. 20. ISSN 0006-7539.
- ^ "British Book Award". LibraryThing. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ a b c "Book review: Girls in Tears". CBBC Newsround. BBC. 30 March 2005. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ a b Brunt, Jessica (20 November 2022). "A Definitive Ranking Of 18 Jacqueline Wilson Books". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ Baxter-Wright, Dusty (13 April 2018). "A definitive ranking of Jacqueline Wilson books, based on how distressing they actually were". Cosmpolitan. Hearst Communications. p. 16. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ Pochin, Courtney (22 March 2024). "Here's everything we know about Jacqueline Wilson's new adult book launch". Metro. DMG Media. Retrieved 24 March 2024.