If you were a child or teenager in the 90s and 00s, you'll be familiar with Dame Jacqueline Wilson as a highly respected figure in literature.
The favorite author of many Millennials, her novels were the only ones that could divert our attention from our tamagotchis and from watching Hey Arthur over and over again.
Yes, her books were quite gloomy , but we eagerly read them, and for good reason.The author is well-known for creating
books for children, including The Story of Tracy Beaker, The Illustrated Mum, Sleepovers, Lola Rose, and Vicky Angel. One of her most popular works was the four-part Girls series, which consisted of Girls in Love (1997) Girls Under Pressure (1998), Girls Out Late (1999), and Girls in Tears (2002). The novels followed Ellie, Magda, and Nadine, three best friends, as they navigated the complexities of teenage life, family issues, and the highs and lows of young love. They also addressed tough topics such as eating disorders and unhealthy relationships.
The series was so well-received that it led to a TV adaptation that was broadcast on CITV from April 2003 to May 2005.
The books For years, fans of the Girls series have been requesting the 78-year-old writer to create a continuation of the books, focusing on the main characters as adults – and now, their prayers have been answered.
In announcing the book, Jacqueline commented: 'I've always wondered what happened to Ellie, Magda and Nadine, the teenagers in my Girls series. I've decided to find out what they're doing now. It's been great fun writing for adults for a change. I think everyone reading Think Again will be surprised.'
Fans have been ecstatic about the news on social media, with Helen Coffey saying: 'Jacqueline Wilson helped me deal with being a teenage girl – I'm thrilled she's back with a new adult novel!'
Surena Chande posted: 'I didn't realize how much I needed this. I'm thinking of rereading all of my favorite Jacqueline Wilson books from my childhood.' Meanwhile, Holly Bourne declared: 'I AM GOING CRAZY OVER THIS NEWS!'
Yolanthé Fawehinmi added: 'Jacqueline Wilson was like one of my literary godmothers and truly a voice that influenced a generation of curious kids. I was fascinated by her books, which had the most realistic, intense, and captivating stories. I'm very excited about Think Again.'
This is all the information you need to know about the new book…
What is the Girls series about?
Each book in the series was narrated by Eleanor 'Ellie' Allard, a 13-year-old girl in Year 9 at high school. It centered on Ellie and her best friends — the stunning and popular Magda and the slender and rebellious goth Nadine. All three were eager to get boyfriends, and in the first book Ellie feels excluded when her friends both get one.
The story begins with Ellie meeting a nerdy boy named Dan on vacation, who asks her out, but she declines. Later, she invents a boyfriend to impress her friends, also naming him Dan. Things become complicated when they run into the real Dan.
The tale also includes Ellie’s family, with her father, stepmother Anna and half-brother Benedict, who is known as Eggs. Ellie’s mother passed away and she often disagrees with Anna, who is younger than her dad.
The girls grow older as the series continues and the follow-up, Girls Under Pressure, focuses on the girls’ struggles with body image and peer pressure. Ellie starts to display signs of disordered eating after receiving criticism about her weight, while Magda feels pressure to have sex with an older boy she is dating.
Girls Out Late reveals Ellie getting her first real boyfriend, Russell, who is a few years older, but her dad doesn’t approve. Meanwhile, Magda has a crush on her teacher, and the girls become worried that Nadine is getting close to her ‘slimy’ ex Liam again.
And the fourth book in the series, Girls in Tears, encompasses heartbreak all around. Ellie and Russell’s relationship is in trouble, Magda has lost her pet, and Nadine wants to meet up with a man she’s met on the internet — despite her friends’ objections.
Girls in Love was made into a TV show featuring: Olivia Hallinan (centre) as Ellie, Magda, (Zaraah Abrahams) and Nadine (Amy Kwolek, right) (Picture: ITV)
When is Jaqueline Wilson’s new book going to be released?
Think Again is being published by Transworld Books, a division of Penguin Random House. The novel is set to be released on September 12, 2024, and the book can be pre-ordered now via sites like Waterstones.
What is Think Again by Jacqueline Wilson about?
According to The Bookseller, the synopsis for Jacqueline Wilson’s new Girls novel reads: ‘Being an adult isn’t quite what Ellie Allard dreamed it would be when she was 14 years old. Though she’s got her beautiful daughter Lottie, life-long best friends Magda and Nadine and her trusty cat Stella, her love life is non-existent and she feels like she’s been living on auto-pilot, just grateful to be able to afford the rent on her pokey little flat.
‘But this year, on her birthday, the universe seems to decide it’s time for all that to change – whether Ellie wants it to or not. As she navigates new, exciting and often choppy waters, she’s about to discover that life will never stop surprising you – if only you let it.’
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Jacqueline Wilson is back!
‘But this year, on her birthday, the universe seems to decide it’s time for all that to change – whether Ellie wants it to or not. As she navigates new, exciting and often choppy waters, she’s about to discover that life will never stop surprising you – if only you let it.’
Do you have a story to share?
