Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Doubleday UK (2008), Edition: First, 247 pages
Description
Quiet, cautious Pearl has always adored her bold, brash, bad big sister Jodie. When their parents get new jobs at a grand, fusty old boarding school, Melchester College, the girls have to move there - and when they arrive, things start to change. Jodie has always been the leader - but now it's Pearl who's making new friends. Jodie just seems to be getting into more and more trouble - arguing with Mum, scaring the little children, flirting with the gardener. She really doesn't fit in with the posh teenagers at the school.Pearl begins to wonder if she needs Jodie as much as she used to. But when Firework Night comes around and a tragic event occurs, Pearl realises just how much Jodie means to her.
User reviews
LibraryThing member AriadneAranea
My Sister Jodie is destined to be one of my favourite Jacqueline Wilson novels - the same humourous style and conversational tone deals with the same kinds of childhood angst, yet this one is a bit different - even apart from the shock ending.
The whole setting - a crumbling but atmospheric gothic
So, as far as Jacqueline Wilson's books are ever "about" something, this one is about endings. In particular it is about how, in real life, endings are rarely "happy" - and about how, in real life, endings are not even "endings" at all, because something always happens next.
The whole setting - a crumbling but atmospheric gothic
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mansion, turned into an odd sort of boarding school - gives plenty of scope for literary references and allusions and the book takes full advantage. Most satisfyingly for me, Mrs Wilberforce shares her library with Pearl and takes the opportunity to openly resent the sentimental and fanciful endings of those children's classics like The Secret Garden and Heidi and What Katy Did where a paralysed or otherwise disabled child becomes whole through the ministrations of some small but saintly heroine. (Hear, hear.)So, as far as Jacqueline Wilson's books are ever "about" something, this one is about endings. In particular it is about how, in real life, endings are rarely "happy" - and about how, in real life, endings are not even "endings" at all, because something always happens next.
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LibraryThing member brokenangelkisses
This is the first Jacqueline Wilson book I have tried reading (as part of shadowing the ‘Berkshire Book Award’ and I have to admit that it was better than I’d anticipated. Wilson is famous for writing amazingly popular stories for young children, around 10-13, and has been honoured with many
‘My Sister Jodie’ tells the story of two very different sisters: Pearl is shy/reserved and her sister Jodie is much more confident with a flair for getting in to trouble. The story is told from Pearl’s perspective, but Jodie’s thoughts are usually clear to us through her speech and actions. Their mother, distraught by Jodie’s multiple ear piercings, dyed hair and lack of interest in school, decides to move the whole family miles away to live at Melchester College, a Victorian gothic mansion. Pearl, who is increasingly bullied at school for being a ‘swot’ and a ‘teacher’s pet’ is more than ready to go; Jodie is unhappy but finally ready to leave.
Perhaps unsurprisingly then, Pearl soon settles in at Melchester College while Jodie feels increasingly isolated. Wilson shows the pain that results as two sisters grow steadily apart. As the girls explore their new home, Wilson fully exploits the gothic setting by creating a mysterious tower, abandoned attics and a reference to Miss Havisham. This creates a dark tone that increases as the novel continues and tensions grow.
Early on in the novel, it is clear that Sharon, the girls’ mum, has a favourite: Pearl. Sharon constantly berates and belittles Jodie, regarding her individual nature as unsuitable for a young lady, and suggests that she is corrupting Pearl. Although Jodie does behave poorly at times, she is actually an adventurous, fun-loving child who appears to seek negative attention partly because she gets no positive attention from her mother. As the novel progressed, Sharon’s complaining began to irritate me greatly, especially as she fails to notice Jodie’s growing unhappiness. Joe, the girls’ dad, does love both daughters, but is an ineffectual figure, failing to rein in his wife’s overt hostility and reassure Jodie of her place in their hearts. This was a very sad aspect to the novel.
The pace of the story is slow to allow Wilson to focus on the emotional states of the characters; this is understandable, but does make the plot rather dull, even when supposedly dramatic events happen. Events are realistic and believable; dialogue is equally soundly constructed. The more minor characters can seem very one-sided, but they are largely subsidiary to the novel’s emotional centre and this flaw can be overlooked.
The problem comes at the end. Unsatisfied with simply creating a believable tale of separation and conformist anxiety, Wilson sticks a sudden shocking event into the penultimate chapter. Obviously, there is never time to explore the implications of this fully, so the novel feels poorly closed. However, it is possible to read a very disturbing message into the novel’s final chapter: the family become happier, despite their sadness, and it seems that perhaps the only option in life is to conform.
I feel there is some ambiguity surrounding this event, although it is unclear whether this is intentional on Wilson’s part. Young readers may find this very sad and surprising, but it is not written graphically so should not cause too much upset. In fact, the whole event happens extremely quickly after a lengthy, clue-ridden build-up.
Another complaint is that the whole of the plot is given away by the blurb: I could have guessed the ending, even if a kind (!) friend hadn’t told me before I read the book. This does mean that the novel is slightly predictable because you can feel as if you are just waiting for the big event to occur. Of course, as I noted above, the big climax is clearly signposted throughout the book anyway, so only very young readers are likely to feel sideswiped. I do think this is a flaw because, although it engages you with the characters, hoping that the event won’t happen, Wilson is usually famed for tackling difficult issues and I feel this issue is left totally unresolved as it happens so close to the ending of the novel.
Overall this is a realistic and mildly enjoyable, if highly predictable, read.
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of the UK’s top awards for children’s books. She was also the Children’s Laureate for 2005-7 and was awarded an OBE in 2002. Obviously I was aware of her popularity, but I was convinced that her books were over-hyped, dull and simplistic. (These are the same reasons why I have never read any of the Harry Potter books.)‘My Sister Jodie’ tells the story of two very different sisters: Pearl is shy/reserved and her sister Jodie is much more confident with a flair for getting in to trouble. The story is told from Pearl’s perspective, but Jodie’s thoughts are usually clear to us through her speech and actions. Their mother, distraught by Jodie’s multiple ear piercings, dyed hair and lack of interest in school, decides to move the whole family miles away to live at Melchester College, a Victorian gothic mansion. Pearl, who is increasingly bullied at school for being a ‘swot’ and a ‘teacher’s pet’ is more than ready to go; Jodie is unhappy but finally ready to leave.
Perhaps unsurprisingly then, Pearl soon settles in at Melchester College while Jodie feels increasingly isolated. Wilson shows the pain that results as two sisters grow steadily apart. As the girls explore their new home, Wilson fully exploits the gothic setting by creating a mysterious tower, abandoned attics and a reference to Miss Havisham. This creates a dark tone that increases as the novel continues and tensions grow.
Early on in the novel, it is clear that Sharon, the girls’ mum, has a favourite: Pearl. Sharon constantly berates and belittles Jodie, regarding her individual nature as unsuitable for a young lady, and suggests that she is corrupting Pearl. Although Jodie does behave poorly at times, she is actually an adventurous, fun-loving child who appears to seek negative attention partly because she gets no positive attention from her mother. As the novel progressed, Sharon’s complaining began to irritate me greatly, especially as she fails to notice Jodie’s growing unhappiness. Joe, the girls’ dad, does love both daughters, but is an ineffectual figure, failing to rein in his wife’s overt hostility and reassure Jodie of her place in their hearts. This was a very sad aspect to the novel.
The pace of the story is slow to allow Wilson to focus on the emotional states of the characters; this is understandable, but does make the plot rather dull, even when supposedly dramatic events happen. Events are realistic and believable; dialogue is equally soundly constructed. The more minor characters can seem very one-sided, but they are largely subsidiary to the novel’s emotional centre and this flaw can be overlooked.
The problem comes at the end. Unsatisfied with simply creating a believable tale of separation and conformist anxiety, Wilson sticks a sudden shocking event into the penultimate chapter. Obviously, there is never time to explore the implications of this fully, so the novel feels poorly closed. However, it is possible to read a very disturbing message into the novel’s final chapter: the family become happier, despite their sadness, and it seems that perhaps the only option in life is to conform.
I feel there is some ambiguity surrounding this event, although it is unclear whether this is intentional on Wilson’s part. Young readers may find this very sad and surprising, but it is not written graphically so should not cause too much upset. In fact, the whole event happens extremely quickly after a lengthy, clue-ridden build-up.
Another complaint is that the whole of the plot is given away by the blurb: I could have guessed the ending, even if a kind (!) friend hadn’t told me before I read the book. This does mean that the novel is slightly predictable because you can feel as if you are just waiting for the big event to occur. Of course, as I noted above, the big climax is clearly signposted throughout the book anyway, so only very young readers are likely to feel sideswiped. I do think this is a flaw because, although it engages you with the characters, hoping that the event won’t happen, Wilson is usually famed for tackling difficult issues and I feel this issue is left totally unresolved as it happens so close to the ending of the novel.
Overall this is a realistic and mildly enjoyable, if highly predictable, read.
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LibraryThing member Emziib
I loved this book it made me laugh and cry it was a really good read and I would read it again and again.
LibraryThing member ANIRoom042009
This book is about a girl named Pearl who absolutely adores her sister Jodie, but they are quite surprisingly the exact oppisite. Pearl is quiet, shy and polite while Jodie on the other hand is confident, bold and "bad". When their parents find a job at a old boarding school, Pearl and Jodie must
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go with them to spend the summer. Jodie seems to be getting into more and more trouble, while Pearl is making lots of new friends. She thinks that she might not need Jodie after all, but what she doesn't realize is that Jodie needs her. It isn't until a tragic event occurs that Pearl discovers just how much she needs her big sister. This book made me both laugh and cry, it really touched my heart. Its a book that never gets too old and is super relateable. Show Less
LibraryThing member morganr
I have been a fan of Jacqueline Wilson for a long time, her books are always exciting and relateable. My Sister Jodie is no exception. The story takes place in an old mansion which has been turned into a boarding school, Jodie and Peal's parents have gotten jobs at the school and subsequently Jodie
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and Pearl have moved too. Pearl a timid girl has finally found her place where as her bold sister Jodie is just not fitting in. Jodie seems to be getting in more and more trouble, scaring the young children and flirting with the young grounds keeper, Jed. During the summer and the first few weeks of school Pearl starts to realise that she doesn't need her sister so much any more. Near the end of the book we hear of a firework night. Just before the fireworks start there is a tragic event that lets Pearl see how much she really needs her sister. At the end of the book we find out that the story is actually being told by Pearl to her new little sister. All in all a very good read. This story controls your emotions, captivates readers, and will have you reaching for the tissues on more than one occasion! Show Less
LibraryThing member smg-gmcmahon
well i think this book, my sister jodie is a great book because i have a sister. and because it is really nice to see the perspective of another sisters life. and i love how this story explains everything they say and some bits are funny,gross and some cheaky things. by gabrielle mcmahon
LibraryThing member wadu
I love this book. It is a really touching story which seems to speaks to you.
LibraryThing member atreic
Slightly underwhelmed by this Jaqueline Wilson, which just seemed a bit too bleak. I mean, JW is misery lit, but they usually have some light of hope in the midst of their realism. Tracey Beaker has a hard time in the kids home and learns she has to stop expecting her mum to come back and save the
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day, but gets fostered by Cam and escapes. Vicky’s friend deals with the trauma of Vicky dying, but eventually gets a better understanding of her own guilt and her own grief and moves on. This book never really found its swing. A large dollop of it is a story of younger-sister (Pearl) moving out of the shadow of older-sister (Jodie), discovering her own skills and friends and interests, and learning to thrive at a boarding school after an inner city comp. There’s badger watching and exploring locked attics, and bobbing for apples and birthday parties. And that’s the bit of the story that is engaging and rich, if a little bit superficial and predictable, but unfortunately JW is trying to write the story of Jodie, who doesn’t settle at the new school, is bullied by the other girls, and eventually dies in a tragic fall from the tower. And for me, that really didn’t work. It felt very rushed – the tragedy occurs within the last 20 pages of the book – and it was also just a genuinely grim and grubby character arch. Jodie is Trouble, even though Trouble with a good heart, and there is no hope or redemption – she becomes more and more miserable and isolated, as she grows away from her sister, falls out with her crush (who is Evil), and even messes up the relationship with the little kids in the school, who had been her bright relief. And then she dies. The End. And I don’t think it’s just that… the book skirts really near to suggesting that Jodie is driven to suicide by everything that happens to her (and Pearl is an unreliable narrator, so who knows?) but my reading was that it mostly comes down on the side of ‘she was wearing stupid heels and trying to play a prank and it went horribly wrong’. Which is an OK story to tell, but it takes even more of Jodie’s autonomy away from her, and also leaves a slightly funny taste which is oddly almost pro-bullies – ‘well, boys and girls, some people claim kids are driven to kill themselves by bullying, but actually sometimes it’s just an accident, and not really suicide at all’. Plus, the miserable Jodie story-arch then destroys the Pearl story-arch – in the last 10 pages, all that Pearl has achieved (moving school, doing well academically, making friends with Harvey, seeing badgers, starting to draw the crippled headmistress out of her shell) is suddenly negated – the book ends with ‘So we left the school and everyone we’d met immediately, went back to the city, and were sad. Well, mum had another baby so that sort of made it a bit OK’. I guess that’s pretty realistic – the death of your daughter/sister _is_ going to mess up a lot of your personal growth for quite some time – but it made the whole book feel very bleak and pointless. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2008-03-13
Physical description
247 p.; 5.62 inches
ISBN
0385610122 / 9780385610124