Jacqueline Wilson is working her way through difficult subjects; one after the other. Last autumn it was pupil-teacher relationships, this October Jacqueline is taking on homosexuality. It’s a good idea, particularly considering how many readers she has. At a time when young people can do with some solid guidance, it’s good that authors with influence can put across a level way of looking at awkward topics.
Kiss is about Carl and Sylvie, childhood best friends. They have always done things together, and Sylvie has always expected them to get married, and so have those around them. Now they’re fourteen and Carl is changing. Sylvie has to learn to make new friends, and to let go where Carl is concerned. It’s obvious to the reader that Carl is gay, but the way to discovery for Sylvie is a hard one.
I quite liked Sylvie’s new friend, the naughty Miranda. It’s not clear whether Jacqueline Wilson intends her to be “good” or “bad”. I also felt that Carl was too perfect, and that maybe his and Sylvie’s childhood game was that little bit too childish and unlikely. There are some interesting minor characters, and unusually for Jacqueline, some decent men.
All in all, Kiss is a good story on an important subject.
2 responses so far ↓
adele geras // October 4, 2007 at 10:53 |
For any readers who are interested, my book, ’silent snow secret snow’ (Young Picador 1998) has a young gay hero. Nobody much commented on it at the time!
bookwitch // October 4, 2007 at 13:02 |
Yes, I suppose I keep forgetting that, because I don’t think the gayness was central to the story in the same way. I mean, it was important, but the whole plot didn’t revolve round it.
But it’s a very good book, and particularly nice to read around Christmas.