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SleepoversJacqueline Wilson
Sleepovers
by Jacqueline Wilson
Daisy's new friends are all having birthday sleepovers, and Daisy is dreading hers, because it means them meeting her disabled sister.
A story about children and families, warm and thoughtful in tone. We would put it with children of 7–10, and at a reading age of about 8 for reading alone.
Worth knowing before you buy
- Bullying
None of this makes it a bad book — often the opposite. It is here so you can decide whether it is right for your child now or in a year or two.
Our take on this book
Daisy is desperate to fit in with the group of friends holding a run of sleepover birthday parties, but she is dreading her own — because she doesn't want the others to meet her big sister Lily, who has severe disabilities, in case they are unkind. Jacqueline Wilson handles a delicate subject with her usual honesty and warmth: Daisy's mix of love for her sister and fear of her friends' reactions is drawn truthfully, and the book gently guides its reader towards understanding without ever preaching. It is short, accessible and illustrated by Nick Sharratt, ideal for a younger Wilson reader. There is nothing frightening, though the emotional territory — sibling loyalty, disability, the cruelty children can show — is real and handled with care. For an eight- to eleven-year-old it is a warm, thoughtful read that quietly builds empathy, and a particularly valuable one for any child with a disabled sibling, or a classmate who has, told with Wilson's trademark understanding.
If they like this, try these
Chosen by matching age, reading age, tone and subject — not by what is selling.
Front DeskKelly Yang
The Illustrated MumJacqueline Wilson
Anisha, Accidental DetectiveSerena Patel
Ballet ShoesNoel Streatfeild
Charlie Changes Into a ChickenSam Copeland
Or let them write their own.
Nothing gets a child reading like a story they invented themselves. Your child plans the characters and the plot, and we write, illustrate and print it as a real book with their name on the cover as the author.
Find another book
Tell us the age, the reading age and what they like, and we will suggest a handful.