Jacqueline wilson autobiography vs biography

Jacqueline Wilson

English novelist (born )

Dame Jacqueline Wilson (néeAitken; born 17 December ) is an English novelist known for her popular children's literature. Her novels have been notable for tackling realistic topics such as adoption and divorce without alienating her large readership. Since her debut novel in , Wilson has written more than books.

Early life

Jacqueline Aitken was born in Bath, Somerset, on 17 December ^[1] Her father, Harry, was a civil servant and her mother, Margaret "Biddy" (née Clibbens), was an antiques dealer.^[2] She particularly enjoyed books by Noel Streatfeild, as well as American classics like Little Women and What Katy Did.^[3] At the age of nine, she wrote her first "book", "Meet the Maggots", which was 21 pages long.^[4] Wilson was given the nickname Jacky Daydream at school, which she later used as the title of her autobiography, which tells of her life as a primary school-aged child.^[5]

Wilson attended Coombe Girls' School in Surrey and Carshalton Technical College.^[3] After leaving school at age 16, she began training as a secretary but then applied to work with the Dundee-based publishing company DC Thomson on a new girls' magazine, Jackie.^[6]

Career

Further information: Jacqueline Wilson bibliography

When Wilson began to focus on writing, she completed several crime fiction novels before dedicating herself to children's books. At the age of 40, she took A-level English and earned a grade A.^[7] She had mixed success with about 40 books before the breakthrough to fame in with The Story of Tracy Beaker,^[8] published by Doubleday.

As her children's novels frequently feature themes of adoption, divorce and mental illness, they tend to attract controversy, yet are well loved by children and adults alike.^[9]

University of Roehampton and charity work

In June , Wilson was appointed a professorial fellow of the University of Roehampton,^[10] and a Pro-Chancellor. In February , it was announced that she would be appointed Chancellor of the university (its honorary figurehead) from August ^[11] She was reappointed in for a further three years.^[12] She teaches modules in both the Children's Literature and Creative Writing master's degree (MA) programmes offered by the university.^[13] She concluded her term as Chancellor in August

Wilson is patron of the charity Momentum in Kingston upon Thames, south London,^[14] which helps children undergoing treatment for cancer (and their families), and also a patron of the Letterbox Club, a BookTrust initiative.^[15] Until she moved away from Kingston-upon-Thames she was a patron of the Friends of Richmond Park.^[16]^[17]

Reception

In The Big Read, a poll conducted by the BBC, four of Wilson's books were ranked among the most popular books in the UK: Double Act, Girls In Love, Vicky Angel, and The Story of Tracy Beaker.^[18] Fourteen books by Wilson ranked in the top ^[18] In , she replaced Catherine Cookson as the most borrowed author in Britain's libraries,^[19] a position she retained until being overtaken by James Patterson in ^[20]

Accolades

For her work, Wilson has won many awards including the Smarties Prize and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, a book award judged by a panel of British children's writers.^[21]The Illustrated Mum () won the annual Guardian Prize and the annual British Book Award for Children's Book of the Year; it also made the Whitbread Awards shortlist. The Story of Tracy Beaker won the Blue Peter People's Choice Award, and Girls in Tears was the Children's Book of the Year at the British Book Awards. Two of her books were "Highly Commended" runners-up for the annual Carnegie Medal: The Story of Tracy Beaker () and Double Act ().^[22]^[a]

In June , Wilson was appointed an OBE for services to literacy in schools^[23] and from to she served as the fourth Children's Laureate.^[2]^[23] In that role, Wilson urged parents and carers to continue reading aloud to children long after they are able to read for themselves.^[24] She also campaigned to make more books available for blind people and campaigned against cutbacks in children's television drama.^[24]

In October , she received an honorary degree from the University of Winchester in recognition of her achievements in and on behalf of children's literature.^[25] In July , the University of Roehampton awarded her an Honorary Doctorate (Doctor of Letters) in recognition of her achievements in and on behalf of children's literature.^[25] She has also received honorary degrees from the University of Dundee, the University of Bath and Kingston University.^[25]

In the New Year Honours, Wilson was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE).^[26] In July , Dame Jacqueline was also elected an honorary fellow of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.^[27] In , Wilson received the Special Award at the BAFTA Children's Awards.^[28] In the new years honours, Wilson was appointed a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire

For her lifetime contribution as a children's writer, Wilson was a UK nominee for the international Hans Christian Andersen Award in ^[29]

A lecture hall at Kingston University's Penrhyn Road campus has been named after her.^[30]

Works

Main article: Jacqueline Wilson bibliography

Adaptations

A dramatisation of Wilson's Double Act, written and directed by Vicky Ireland, was first performed at The Polka Theatre in Wimbledon, London from 30 January to 12 April , and toured throughout the UK. The playscript was published by Collins Plays Plus. Ireland has also written dramatisations of The Lottie Project (performed at Polka Theatre and San Pol Theatre, Madrid), Midnight, Bad Girls and Secrets, which were also commissioned by the Polka Theatre, and a dramatisation of The Suitcase Kid which was performed at the Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond and later toured throughout the UK. The scripts for these plays were published by Nick Hern Books.

The following books by Wilson have been adapted for television:

Cliffhanger (, Channel 4). Part of Look, See and Read, two-part drama.
Double Act (, Channel 4). Starring twins Zoe and Chloe Tempest-Jones as Ruby and Garnet, with a special appearance by Jacqueline Wilson as the casting director at the auditions. This was a one-off minute feature.
The Story of Tracy Beaker (–, CBBC). Starring Dani Harmer as Tracy and Lisa Coleman (whose sister, Charlotte, appeared in Double Act as Miss Debenham) as Cam. Original broadcast dates: 8 January &#;– 9 February Since its original broadcasts, minute versions have been shown on repeat on the CBBC Channel since
The Illustrated Mum (, Channel 4). Starring former EastEnders star Michelle Collins as Marigold Westward, who won a BAFTA Award for her role, and who went on to play Stella Price in Coronation Street, Alice Connor as Dolphin Westward and Holly Grainger as Star Westward. This was a four-part mini-series but later shown as a full feature with no ad breaks. It was again repeated at Christmas Original broadcast date: 5 December
Best Friends (, ITV). This was a six-part miniseries, but was originally broadcast as one feature with a slightly different ending. It starred Chloe Smyth as Gemma and Poppy Rogers as Alice. Original broadcast date: 3 December This was repeated on the CITV Channel on 6 March
Girls in Love (ITV). Starring Olivia Hallinan as Ellie, Zaraah Abrahams as Magda and Amy Kwolek as Nadine. There have been two series of Girls in Love broadcast. Original broadcast dates: 1 April &#;– 18 April
Dustbin Baby (BBC). Featuring an A-list cast including Juliet Stevenson as Marion, David Haig as a new character, Elliot, and Dakota Blue Richards as April. Original broadcast date: 21 December
Tracy Beaker Returns (–). This is a series in which Tracy (Dani Harmer) returns to the "Dumping Ground" (Stowey House, whose name has been changed to Elm Tree House) to earn money for her new book because she used Cam's credit card without permission to publish it; she was arrested, but Cam decided not to press charges as long as the money was paid back in full. She realises that Elm Tree House has changed and the new children act just like she did herself in her days. At times, she tries to help the children, concluding in the new social workers almost firing her. But sometimes she only gets the child's part of the story, then being told the whole thing and being totally confused and outraged.
The Tracy Beaker Survival Files (–). A spin-off series where Tracy teaches lessons about various subjects using her stories from the past, and clips from The Story of Tracy Beaker and Tracy Beaker Returns. Original broadcast date: 17 December to 6 January
The Dumping Ground (–). The continued life at the Dumping Ground after Tracy Beaker moves on to a new care home, and focuses more on just one child in the care home. Not a book by Jacqueline Wilson but inspired by the Tracy Beaker novels.
The Dumping Ground Survival Files (–). A spin-off and continuation of the Tracy Beaker Survival Files, where the Dumping Ground kids teach lessons about various subjects using stories that have happened to them and their friends in the past, using clips from Tracy Beaker Returns and The Dumping Ground.
Hetty Feather (–). Stars Isabel Clifton as Hetty Feather, living her life in the Foundling Hospital and, later at the end of the third series, starting her life as a maid in service.
The Dumping Ground: I'm (–). A spin-off series similar to the Survival Files, but instead where the characters make videos about themselves, who they are, what they like and stuff that's happened to them in their life.
Katy was made into a three-part TV series, Katy, broadcast on CBBC from 13 March to 16 March ^[31] Chloe Lea, who played Katy went on to play Viv in The Dumping Ground, the continuation of Tracy BeakerReturns.
Four Children and It was adapted into a feature film named Four Kids and It.^[32]
My Mum Tracy Beaker was adapted into a three-part television series for CBBC, My Mum Tracy Beaker, from 12 February to 14 February ^[33] It was originally three parts, but it was shown the following week on BBC One as a feature film.
We Are The Beaker Girls was adapted into a television series, also for CBBC, The Beaker Girls, in December , which shows Tracy and her life after she gets over her break-up with Sean Godfrey.
Little Darlings was adapted into a television series, for Sky Kids, in February This followed the two lives of Destiny and Sunset, both children of Danny Kilman, a has-been rockstar.

Personal life

Jacqueline began a relationship with printer Millar Wilson, whom she married in when she was Two years later, they had a daughter named Emma.^[6] Her husband later left her for another woman.^[7] They divorced in ^[7]^[34]

In April , Wilson announced she was in a same-sex relationship with bookshop owner Trish, to whom she dedicated a book.^[35] She revealed that she had been living with her partner, Trish, for 18 years.^[35] She lives in East Sussex.^[36] In September she stated she was delighted to be seen as a gay icon after coming out. "I'm very touched to be thought of as a gay icon, it's an absolute delight," she said after publishing her first adult novel Think Again, which is the sequel to the Girls series and follows the life of Ellie Allard and her best friends Nadine and Magda, as they turn 40 years of age.^[37]

Notes

^Since there are usually eight books on the Carnegie shortlist. CCSU lists 32 "Highly Commended" runners-up for the Carnegie Medal from to but only three before when the distinction became approximately annual. There were 29 "HC" books in 24 years including Wilson alone for and

References

^Ferguson, Donna (25 September ). "My parents at war: Jacqueline Wilson opens up about unhappy early life". The Observer. Retrieved 29 May
^ ^a^bPauli, Michelle (26 May ). "Children's laureateship goes to Jacqueline Wilson". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 July
^ ^a^b"Jacqueline Wilson". The Guardian. 22 July Retrieved 29 August
^Wilson, Jacqueline (24 February ). "I was a girl for gritty realism". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 August
^Mangan, Lucy (6 February ). "Jacqueline Wilson interview: 'People say my books are all sex and drugs, but I can't remember any'". The Guardian. ISSN&#; Retrieved 29 September
^ ^a^b"Author profile". Jubilee Books. Archived from the original on 30 September
^ ^a^b^c"Dame Jacqueline Wilson's nasty adult world". The Daily Telegraph. 7 March Archived from the original on 10 May Retrieved 13 August
^Armitstead, Claire (14 February ). "Profile: Jacqueline Wilson". The Guardian. ISSN&#; Retrieved 29 September
^"Jacqueline Wilson". Major Authors and Illustrators for Children and Young Adults, 2nd ed., 8 vols. Gale Group, Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Retrieved 2 January , From to
^"Jacqueline Wilson appointed Professorial Fellow". University of Roehampton. Archived from the original on 29 November Retrieved 6 August
^"Dame Jacqueline Wilson confirmed as new Chancellor". University of Roehampton. Archived from the original on 22 February Retrieved 14 February
^"Dame Jacqueline Wilson re-appointed Chancellor of the University" (Press release). University of Roehampton. 5 April Archived from the original on 1 December Retrieved 20 April
^"Jacqueline Wilson to become new University of Roehampton chancellor". Your Local Guardian. 15 October Retrieved 29 September
^"Patrons". Momentum. Archived from the original on 26 August Retrieved 24 August
^"Letterbox Club Patrons". BookTrust. Retrieved 20 April
^Fleming, Christine (25 March ). "Friends of Richmond Park to mark 50 years of protecting the green space". Wandsworth Guardian. Retrieved 20 April
^FRP announces its new patronsArchived 27 August at the Wayback Machine Friends of Richmond Park website. Retrieved 30 May
^ ^a^b"BBC&#;– The Big Read". BBC. April Retrieved 15 October
^"Public Lending Right"(PDF). 19 April
^Lea, Richard (8 February ). "James Patterson stamps out library competition". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 August
^"Guardian children's fiction prize relaunched: Entry details and list of past winners". The Guardian. 12 March Retrieved 2 August
^"Carnegie Medal Award". (?). Curriculum Lab. Elihu Burritt Library. Central Connecticut State University (CCSU). Retrieved 13 July
^ ^a^b"Jacqueline Wilson". Children's Laureate (). Booktrust. Retrieved 28 September
^ ^a^b"Damehood for Tracy Beaker creator". BBC News. 29 December Retrieved 29 May
^ ^a^b^c"Wonderful Women Interview with Jacqueline Wilson". Honest Mum. Retrieved 4 April
^"No. ". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December pp.&#;6–7.
^^[permanent dead link&#;] Laing, Stuart. "Domus" in The Letter, Michaelmas , 91, p^{[permanent dead link&#;]}, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge^{[permanent dead link&#;]}
^"Dame Jacqueline Wilson to Receive BAFTA Special Award". BAFTAs. 13 November
^" Awards". Hans Christian Andersen Awards. International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). Retrieved 20 July
^"Penhryn Road Campus"(PDF). KUCEL&#;– flexible event spaces. Kingston University London. p.&#;4. Archived from the original(PDF) on 4 March Retrieved 4 January
^"Six-year-old makes acting debut on CBBC TV show". St Helens Star. St Helens, Merseyside. 23 March Retrieved 16 September
^Alberge, Dalya (19 July ). "Filming begins on Jacqueline Wilson's Four Kids and It". The Guardian.
^"Fans reminisce as new series My Mum Tracy Beaker sees return of Dani Harmer's classic CBBC character". Evening Standard. 9 February Retrieved 10 February
^'WILSON, Jacqueline', Who's Who , A & C Black, ; online edn, Oxford University Press, December retrieved 30 May "Born 17 Dec. ; d of late Harry Aitken and of Margaret Aitken (née Clibbens) who was known as Biddy; m , William Millar Wilson (marr. diss. ); one d".
^ ^a^bFlood, Alison (4 April ). "Jacqueline Wilson reveals publicly that she is gay". The Guardian. ISSN&#; Retrieved 4 April
^Carey, Jasmine (9 June ). "Jacqueline Wilson's quiet life in the South Downs". sussexlive. Retrieved 14 April
^"Jacqueline Wilson: 'Delighted to be viewed as a gay icon' after coming out". . Retrieved 9 September

Jacqueline wilson autobiography vs biography