Tracy Beaker is back as a single mum in Jacqueline Wilson’s new book

It’s been 27 years since the first Tracy Beaker book, but she’s back for 2018 and has grown up just like the rest of us

Jacqueline Wilson is bringing back one of her most famous characters later this year with the release of a new book. My Mum Tracy Beakersees Tracy as a single mum in her 30s, living on a rough housing estate in London and struggling to make ends meet. Her nine-year old daughter, Jess, narrates the book. Primarily aimed at seven to 11-year olds, teenagers and adults who enjoyed the original books will love this new reincarnation too.

Speaking to The Observer, Wilson says she chose to embark on the story because she wanted to explore what kind of modern-day mother Tracy would be. “When I realised just how long ago it was since I wrote the first Tracy Beaker book, I thought: if we were in real time, Tracy herself would be in her 30s. And I’ve always thought that, even though Tracy had lots of problems in her life and a pretty rubbish mum who was never there for her, Tracy herself would be a good mum, no matter what.”

Wilson goes on to say she wanted the sequel to be realistic. “How many young women without much education earn enough, with a daughter, to be able to buy their own home in London today? Being Tracy, she wants to be independent, but with a child, how can she be? So she’s having to scratch around.”

The original Tracy Beaker series began with Wilson’s breakthrough novel in 1991, The Story of Tracy Beaker, chronicling the happenings of a 10-year old Tracy who lived in a care home – otherwise known as ‘the dumping ground’. A groundbreaking subject at the time, the literary series and following television adaptation changed the perceptions of children in care.

Wilson is yet to finish the book, which is due for release in October. Question is, will Tracy get the happy ending she deserves? We’ll just have to wait and see…