The Illustrated Mum by Jacqueline Wilson

Illustrated by Nick Sharratt
C1999
Corgi Books (published by random house children’s books)
Denmark

Narrated in the first person, this captivating and sympathetic ten year old (with the unfortunate name Dolphin) tells of the trials that come with living with her single mother who suffers from manic-depressive disorder. The story follows Dolphin on her discovery that her colourful and eccentric family unit is on the brink of collapse. Her older and more vivacious sister meets her real father and gets swept away by his glamourous lifestyle, leaving Dolphin to cope with her mother Marigold just as she approaches one of her notoriously scary spells. Dolphin finds strength by forming a friendship with another outcast in school who shows her that she is not always second best, that her first impressions of people can be wrong, and that expectations of what a family should be do not always need to be met. The story is fast-paced and emotional, yet told with humour and self-awareness. Perfect for a mature 9 and up. *****