The Suitcase Kid - Softcover

Wilson, Jacqueline

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0440867738 ISBN 13: 9780440867739

Publisher: Transworld Publishers, 2007

Synopsis

Andrea West’s parents are divorced, and her tiny stuffed rabbit, Radish, seems her only comfort in the world. She must leave the home she loves with the mulberry tree in the front yard and deal with parents who still fight, stepparents, step-siblings, two different bedrooms (neither of which is really hers), loneliness, and an acute longing for the past. Her grades sink, her friends drift away, and she's not quite sure how to fix any of it. Eventually, though, a new equilibrium begins to settle on her life. Honest and true-to-life, Andy’s story shows that dealing with divorce is never easy.

About this title

Review

Although there are many children's books about divorce, few move beyond bland therapeutic preaching into the realm of well-told stories. This one does. A hard look at joint-custody life, The Suitcase Kid follows Andrea West and her tiny stuffed rabbit, Radish, through the painful adjustment of being a kid with divorced parents. She must leave the home she loves with the mulberry tree in the front yard, and deal with parents who still fight, step parents, step siblings, two different bedrooms (neither of which is really hers), loneliness, and an acute longing for the past. Her grades sink. Her friends drift away. And she's not quite sure how to fix any of it.

Wisely, Jacqueline Wilson doesn't offer instant solutions; rather, she chronicles Andy's journey to the beginning of equilibrium in her new life. Things will never be the way they were, but, as the book suggests, they'll get better over time. And because it's well written and honest, The Suitcase Kid will appeal to any child who enjoys realistic fiction, not just those who "need" to read a book about divorce. (The publisher recommends the The Suitcase Kid for ages 8-12, but it could easily serve kids who are a couple of years younger or older.)

From the Publisher

When Andy West's parents get divorced, the plucky 10-year-old is left without a home to call her own. Both her parents have remarried, and Andy finds herself shuttling back and forth between their houses--one week with Mom and "Bill the Baboon," one week with Dad and Carrie. Living out of a suitcase is tough, but having five new stepbrothers and sisters is even tougher.

Her parents say Andy should be happy to have two wonderful new families. But Andy wants her old family back. She wants to live with her mom and dad in their beloved Mulberry Cottage. Andy knows that's not going to happen, though, because real life isn't a fairy tale.

About this edition

• Publisher: Transworld Publishers
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0440867738
• ISBN 13: 9780440867739
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 160
• Illustrator: Sharratt Nick