Cookie by Jacqueline Wilson

Genre: Children’s Literature | Published: 2008

As part of my month of favourites I thought it would be cute to discuss the first book I ever remember being in love with. So I’m going to transport you back to 2010.

When I compare the periods of my love for reading, the only time that can rival the space I exist in right now was when I was a kid, from about the age of nine to seventeen. Reading was all I did! I devoured books in every format – from the youth classics of Enid Blyton to my Wattpad days when I turned twelve. But God, I loved reading.

If I had to pick an author who had the most impact on me, it has to be Jacqueline Wilson – the author of my heart, the author of my life. So many of her books I remember reading as a child. She had the greatest influence on my love for literature and is, honestly, the bedrock of the genres I eventually pivoted to.

Jacqueline Wilson wrote about serious life things. My friends and I always joke that she was the first to “traumatise” us as kids, but the truth is she never shied away from the major issues that affect tweens and teens. Very real issues, but always told and experienced from the perspective of our age mates – and that’s what I loved most about her. She didn’t dumb it down, she didn’t shy away, but she ensured it was digestible and appropriate for young minds. I learnt so much from her stories.

The Story of Cookie

There are many Jacqueline Wilson stories I loved – Tracy Beaker (obviously), Dustbin Baby, Hetty Feather, Love Lessons, My Sister Jodie – and so many other honourable mentions. But the story this post is about is Cookie.

When I look back on the books I loved as a kid, this was the first one I read over and over again. I didn’t own many physical books at the time (chronic library kid), but my mum had bought Cookie for me for one of my birthdays – I must have been about ten years old. The memory is a bit blurry, but what I do know is that once I had it, my life changed. I read and re-read that book so many times it literally started falling apart. It breaks my heart that I don’t even remember what I eventually did with it, but I know the last time I saw it, that book was on its last legs.

At the time, I couldn’t quite explain why Cookie stood out so much from all the others, why I loved it the way I did. But looking back now, I realise it was because I saw so much of my own life in its pages – not always in obvious ways, but in ways that stayed with me.

Synopsis

Frequently berated for breaking his hyper-fussy house rules, as well as for her lack of looks, confidence and friends, Beauty lives in uneasy fear whenever Dad’s home. Her pretty, sweet mum is equally afraid of him.

Eventually, after an unbearable birthday party, amidst fears that Dad’s temper is out of control, Mum and Beauty run away. They find themselves in an idyllic seaside resort where their new-found freedom and a moment of culinary inspiration give them a hobby, an income and even a new nickname for Beauty whose dreams all come true — and she deserves it!

Why It Meant So Much to Me

This book was so utterly tragic at the beginning – it broke my heart. I related so deeply to Cookie’s relationship with her father, and to the feeling of living in a home where you’re constantly walking on eggshells, never able to live freely. That, I think, was what moved me the most and made the story resonate so powerfully.

So many of Jacqueline Wilson’s books feature mothers who are absent, neglectful, or struggling, but Cookie stood out because here the mother was different. She was strong, she showed up – not just for herself, but for her child too – and ultimately, she chose her child. That struck me deeply, because it reflected something I was experiencing in my own life. To see such a vivid part of my reality mirrored by my favourite author at the time meant everything to me.

There are so many layers to Cookie – a story of courage, strength, and empathy. It was one of the first books that taught me about domestic violence and the immense societal pressures many mothers face in abusive relationships. Cookie’s mother was financially, emotionally, and even physically abused, and was often belittled or ridiculed simply because she was with a well-to-do, wealthy man. And the sad truth is that this remains a very real experience for women everywhere.

If I went into everything I loved about this book, this post would be unreasonably long. But what I cherished most was that it had a happy ending – that there was light at the end, and the possibility to choose better and have better. A story of acceptance and resilience. They were huge lessons for my young mind, but important ones all the same.

Looking Back Now

When I skimmed through the book again for this post, it felt like I was transported straight back to that time. All the reasons I loved it then are still very much there, and it will forever hold – and keep – the title of my first book love.

I’ve always been drawn to stories that reflect real life and real experiences, and that hasn’t changed. I still gravitate towards those kinds of books today – only now, my tastes have simply matured with me. I always knew how much Jacqueline Wilson shaped me but wow it really hit home when writing this post.

I hope you all take the time to revisit your childhood favourites and feel the same warmth and satisfaction you did when you were younger – just as I have.

I’d also love to hear about your first book love! Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for what’s to come.