Product Description

Jade is so used to being with and agreeing with Vicky, her best friend, that when a tragic accident occurs, she can hardly believe that Vicky's no longer there. But Vicky is not going to let being dead stop her from enjoying life to the full. Whatever Jade's doing, Vicky makes her presence felt.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #254174 in Books
• Published on: 2001-10-01
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Eve Best reads Vicky Angel in this unabridged four-CD pack.

Jacqueline Wilson never seems to disappoint her readers, and with Vicky Angel she once again pulls a little magic out of the hat and delivers another stunning novel with her trademark sensitivity and panache.

Jade and Vicky are best friends, but when Vicky is killed in an accident she doesn't let a little old thing like being dead interfere with her life. Instead, she continues as normal, following Jade around, telling her what to do, how to think, how to behave and ruining any chance Jade may have to make new friends. Eventually Jade tires of it all, and although she still loves Vicky deeply, she realises she has to get on with her own life.

Once again, Wilson digs deep and delves into tricky territory with a tenacity that at first shocks; but within a few minutes the shock subsides and the reader is drawn into Jade's world, willing her to come to terms with Vicky's death and praying that she will soon find her own way.

As ever, Wilson's characters are beautifully observed, and the story is filled to the brim with an emotional truth that is both awe inspiring and captivating. Jade's response to Vicky's death, her realisation that the pedestal on which Vicky was placed during her short life was not as stable as she first believed and the ultimate release from the burden of guilt and love are dealt with a sleight of hand that allows the reader to become completely involved with the story without a hint of darkness, captured instead by a lightness of touch that can only serve to make Wilson's peers green with envy. For ages eight and over.

Running time is four hours 15 minutes. --Susan Harrison

Review
"* 'A brilliant writer of wit and subtlety whose stories are never patronising and often complex and many-layered' The Times * 'Jacqueline Wilson has a rare gift for writing lightly and amusingly about emotional issues' Bookseller * 'She's so good, it's exhilarating' Guardian

From the Back Cover
'You look as if you've seen a ghost!'

Jade is so used to being with and agreeing with Vicky, her best friend, that when a tragic accident occurs, she can hardly believe that Vicky's no longer there. But Vicky's a sparky girl who's not going to let a small thing like being dead stop her from living life to the full. Whether Jade is in lessons, out running or tentatively trying to make new friends, Vicky is making her presence felt...

'A complex and moving exploration of guilt and bereavement' Sunday Telegraph

'Readers will weep, identify and enjoy the book enormously' Sunday Times,

'A terrific, involving read' Daily Telegraph

Customer Reviews

An adult's response to Vicky Angel
I read Vicky's Angel with the view to buying multiple copies to read with my Fourth Grade class. I had heard good things about Jacqueline Wilson, my neice is an avid reader, so I decided to check out her latest offering.

I did not expect to find a book so well written or such a powerful exploration of the process of grief.

I do not need to explain the overt plot of the story, as many other reviews have done so, my purpose is to celebrate what I consider an exception book.

When I read Vicky's Angel, having recently read 'A Grief Observed' by C S Lewis, I was astounded to see the feelings of guilt and anger felt by the mourner, as described by Lewis, so well translated for a child audience. Lewis' musings about whether the dead also grieve are here too, as Vicky verbalizes her anger at her life cut short. Lewis' final poignant realisation that his image of his dead wife has been altered into an image of his own making must also translate to when Jade finds Vicky altered and can finally let her go!

Jacqueline Wilson is to be congratulated on this exceptional book. I can only surmise that she has had personal experience of grief and condole with her in this matter.

I will now be searching out and reading all her others books.

I recommend adults read this book and consider Vicky's Angel to be Jade's 'Grief Observed'

As a foot note I decided against using this book with 10 year olds as I found Vicky's regrets about never having experienced sex, while poignant, more suited to an older age group.

I also have to admit the fact that I found some passage so moving that I would be unable to discuss them in public.

Thank you Jacqueline Wilson for writing such a book. We need more books written for children that explore such shared human experiences.

Liz Hayes

This is Jacqueline Wilson's best yet!
Jade and Vicky have an argument,before Vicky steps out into the road and gets knocked over by a car and killed.However,this isn't the end of their friendship!For Vicky returns as a ghost and shows that she's more trouble dead than she ever was alive! This is a funny and moving story that offers a quirky view of the afterlife.It deals with such themes as loyalty,trust and guilt,showing that sometimes only by letting go can a person fully understand how much they love somebody. Jacqueline Wilson writes with compassion and humour.This book entertains and will also stay with you afterwards,making you think again before taking your friends for granted. A life-affirming read!

Brill book!
Vicky and her best friend Jade are like twin but they do not look alike. Vicky is gorgeous, popular and funny but Jade is skinny, shy and very unpopular. After a little argument, one day, when school had finished, Vicky got ran over! See what happens when Jade's life gets haunted by Vicky and it just keeps getting worse! This story is a bit like the diary of Jade as she explains every part of her days in great detail not missing one tiny bit. I read this book in less than twelve hours even though it is 156 pages long - that's how good it is. As soon as you start the book you can put it down right till the end! A must read for all 9 - 13 year old girls (and maybe boys)!