A carefully considered look at the experience of a Victorian childhood from multiple viewpoints. Lucy’s life is comfortable but lacks emotional support. Following a mistake she decides to leave home however life on the streets is not what she expected and help comes from an unexpected source, forcing her to reconsider her ideas of the poor. Set within Jacqueline Wilson’s Victorian world it can be read as a stand-alone and examines themes not looked at in her other novels. Sure to be popular with year 5 and above.

A Jacqueline Wilson book never does disappoint. Runaway Girls was a historic light read that followed two girls who bonded to be more than sisters.
Lucy, a high society young girl, has run away from home when she accidentally melted her doll and has been punished. She meets Kitty and the two become the best of friends as time goes by. They have their differences and arguments but the series of incidents that follow make their friendship stronger.

The main theme of Runaway Girls was friendship. It was delivered in a sweet heartwarming way. The writing style was quite simple and readable.

I enjoyed Kitty and Lucy's characters. I thought that they were quite well rounded and their opposing personalities made it quite interesting.

What didn't quite work for me was the ending. I was hoping that Lucy would meet her father again and it would be bittersweet yet memorable but I got a happy unrealistic ending. It wasn't bad but it could have been better.

Overall a great read and highly recommended!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the E-arc!

I was a big JW fan when I was younger and when I saw her newest release on Net Galley I just had to request it.
It definitely did not disappoint. Packed with the feisty, funny and lovable characters that I’ve always known in Wilson’s books, The Runaway Girl is another classic in the making.

Kitty in particular is a character that I’m sure will be a favourite amongst young readers as she’s a little wild thing & her antics are very very funny to read.

I even think there’s scope for a sequel in this one given where it ended.

Not my favourite of hers, but another fabulous read from the undisputed Queen of her genre.

I am pretty sure everyone on my bookstagram is fully aware of what a HUGE fan I am of Jacqueline Wilson and have been since like, forever?? So, when I got approved to read an ARC of The Runaway Girls, 10 year old me was screaming internally and I could not wait to read it and it reminded me of the reason why younger me loved Jacqueline Wilson's work so much.

I think looking back on all the Jacqueline Wilson books I read as a child, I wasn't fully aware of the important topics that were bought to light throughout her books. This book teaches young people what life could have been like for a child in Victorian London, teaching young readers a historical aspect of London in the Victorian era whilst also teaching them about the importance of friendship and being there for one another.

This book was very character driven and the way that Wilson writes really makes the characters come to life. Despite Lucy and Kitty being very different people personality wise, I adored the both of them immensely. Lucy was such a sweet, well-spoken girl and Kitty was not afraid to ever speak her mind.

With the way the book ended I found myself sitting there just wanting more. Part of me is hoping that was done on purpose which could mean a second instalment into the lives of Lucy and Kitty? I really hope so anyway!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Jacqueline Wilson and Penguin Random House Children’s UK for the ARC in exchange or an honest review!

Jacqueline Wilson is so fab. She was my favourite author growing up and its so nice to read her stuff as an adult and find it equally as addictive! This reminded me fondly of a little princess and is perfect for younger readers!

An adventure from start to finish set in Victorian London. We follow Lucy, an 8 year old who accidentally runs away from home and meets a best friend, Kitty. Lucy is from a wealthy family and Kitty is poor. The story follows the two girls becoming street performers and learning to survive on their own as runaways. At its heart it’s a story of friendship, as the two girls from different walks of life come to rely on each other. Totally heartwarming and Jacqueline Wilson really brings the characters to life.

I was obsessed with Jacqueline Wilson’s books as a kid and this is the first I’ve read in many years. It’s obviously aimed at older children/young teens but I genuinely really enjoyed the book as an adult. It was well written, engaging and for me - very nostalgic!

There’s a reason that Jacqueline Wilson is such an acclaimed Children’s author. I would recommend this book to everyone, adults and children alike!

I absolutely adored this book, and I am fifty something! It’s set at the time of the Great British Exhibition at Crystal Palace in 1851. There’s lots of lavish detail about the exhibition itself, as well as a really good and believable story. I have read most of Wilson’s books aimed at the older reader, and this is definitely the best one yet. Highly recommended for all ages, even as ancient as me!!

I’ve been a huge Jacqueline Wilson fan since I was a wee girl, and her books were the start of my love for reading. When I saw her latest release on NetGalley, I had to request it and when I was approved I had to read it straight away!

I’ve just finished this book and it didn’t disappoint as a Jacqueline Wilson book, with the storyline and feisty characters I adored. It tells the story of an unlikely and intense friendship between characters who have a lot of opposing personality traits. It’s a very accessible book for kids and being set in the Victorian era, it also teaches the reader about some British history too. I sped through this to see what happened next to Lucy and Kitty on their runaway adventures through London, and I can sense a second part to this story based on how it ended. I can guarantee if there is, I won’t hesitate to read it too!

Another great Jacqueline Wilson book that I’m very glad I had the privilege to read, even as an adult.

Runaway Girls is a lovely book about a Victorian gentleman’s young daughter, Lucy, and a street urchin, Kitty, who roam the streets of London together. They have lots of adventures while trying to earn money. They are instantly like sisters when they meet after Lucy runs away from her family hoping for a new life. Through freezing, rainy nights and bewildering, frightening encounters with thieves, they stick by each other and find a solution. This book teaches readers about what the reality was for some small children in Victorian London. I would recommend this for all Jacqueline Wilson lovers aged 8 or 9 and above.

by Charlotte, age 13 and a long-time Jacqueline Wilson fan

Set in Victorian London, two friends, Lucy and Kitty strive to stay alive during this difficult era, with only friendship as their means to achieve this. Jacqueline Wilson has created other novels set during this period and some of the stories cross over, which is fascinating to discover, but does not mean that you have to have read the other books to appreciate this one. The characters are relatable and the story is face paced which means that this is an engrossing book. I will gladly recommend this book to my upper Key Stage 2 school children.

Thank you for this wonderful ARC in return for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Children’s UK and Doubleday for the arc of The Runaway girls by Jacqueline Wilson.

5 STARS- She has never failed me with any of her books since I was a child I have read her since I was a child and I am now 22! She was my favourite Childrens author as a child and still my favourite children's author, she never fails to impress with any books she writes, this was a sensational victorian book which follows Lucy Locket and family, then Kitty Fisher whom is a street performer, Lucy runs from home and then finds Kitty and then she shows Lucy how to survive, how to get the best leftovers from picnic benches in local parks to what tree are the best beds then befriending families to get a free meal! This was such a sensational one by Jacqueline Wilson Once again!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

✨“I try to have reasonable happy endings because I would hate any child to be cast down in gloom and despair, I want to show them you can find a way out of it.”✨
― Jacqueline Wilson

I used to always be reading books by Jacqueline Wilson — she was my go-to author when I was younger. I remember rummaging in the library, charity shops and bookstores for her books! My favourite remained, ‘Hetty Feather’ and my conversation starter slid to Candyfloss and the chippy van!!! (If you know, you know).

So, can you imagine my surprise when I got her latest novel, The Runaway Girls? It was a blast from the past— honestly, I didn’t realise how much I missed her writing style!

🌷The Runaway Girls centres upon a little rich girl, Lucy Locket (that’s what her dad calls her). But when Lucy sees a familiar figure on the streets, she does something no ‘proper, and well bred’ little girl should do… she goes out onto the streets unaccompanied.

Lucy doesn’t get a happy reunion as she gets her clothes stolen, and is left naked and abandoned in an alley. Insert Kitty here, a fierce little street girl comes to her rescue. And these girls will go through thick and thin together.

They become runaways. They look after each other. They are better than sisters, they’re best friends!

🌸A charming read, and a lovely re-introduction back into the world of Jacqueline Wilson. My only point of distress is that it ended a bit abruptly! I needed more, and instead, it just stopped! I even double checked the last page to make sure it was the last page.

Thank you so much @Netgallery, @penguinrandomhousechildrensuk and @Doubledaychildrens for giving me this free copy! It was a real treat!

Read. Be happy. Stay safe.

Was truly honoured to be given this book and it gave me a chance to go back to one of the key authors of my childhood.

The Runaway Girls tells the story of Lucy, who runs away from home after getting in trouble with her parents and her governess. She meets a girl called Kitty who is from a lower social class background and the girls develop a strong friendship together.

This book was very character driven as you get to find out more about the girls and their lives as the book progresses. There is also a historical aspect as the book is set in Victorian England giving it very Dickensian vibes at points.

Jacqueline Wilson books were a big part of my childhood. Whenever I saw her name and Nick Sharratt's illustrations on the cover of a book, I knew I'd be in for a treat.
The Runaway Girls is no exception. It tells the story of Lucy who runs away from home after getting in trouble with her governess, New Mother and Papa. She meets Kitty who helps her survive in the streets of Victorian London. Despite having different backgrounds, Kitty and Lucy soon become friends.
This is an enjoyable and heartwarming read while tackling pretty serious subjects in an accessible way for younger readers. It was also very nostalgic for me as it brought back memories and that is why I requested an ARC from Netgalley.

I think ‘The Runaway Girls’ is a great book. It got me into it.🙂It is about a rich family. The main character, Lucy, runs away after she thinks her favourite past Nurse is walking down the street. This is where the adventures all begin. Set in the Victorian age, it’s not Jacqueline Wilson’s usual time frame but it works really well for this story. As a fan of Jacqueline Wilson, this is a book I would definitely recommend. Written by my 7-year-old daughter who begged me to be able to read and review.

Jaqueline can be relied upon for a entertaining read that will broach the difficult subjects without compromising a happy ending. I’m the wrong demographic for her stories but I must say I still watch Tracy Beaker so I can confirm her stories stay with you and I recommend if you like a short but heartfelt story for bedtime or yourself.

I've always loved Jacqueline's historical novels, and this is another fantastic one. I loved seeing life in Victorian times, something I was always interested in during my school days.

The two main characters are great to follow, I got real Princess and the Pauper vibes from them. I loved Kitty teaching Lucy to survive on the streets, and Lucy trying to bring out Kitty's softer side. I also truly adored Mrs Chubb, who takes the girls in for a while.

However, there were a few things I didn't love. I don't much love an "evill stepmother trope", and I did have to suspend belief a little when Lucy's father didn't recognise her.

Thanks to NetGalley, Jaqueline Wilson and Penguin Random House Children's UK for this advance review copy of The Runaway Girls.

My daughter (7) is a huge fan of Jacqueline Wilson, having worked her way through a fairly substantial number of her previous books during lockdown. When we heard that a new book was coming out this March, she was super excited to read it!

The Runaway Girls is set in Victorian London - a time of substantial divide between rich and poor and has a similar setting to some of Jaqueline Wilson's other Victorian novels (Hetty Feather.). In The Runaway Girls we meet a wealthy little girl called Lucy, who lives with her 'posh' Father and 'New Mother' (her own Mother died when she was young). Lucy lives in a grand house with a maid, a chef, a butler and a nurse called Mrs Groan but despite her family's wealth - she is dreadfully unhappy. Her original nurse who she loved like her own Mother, was deemed to be 'too soft' and sent away when her Father remarried. Lucy misses her dreadfully. Her Father & 'New Mother' have a new baby and Lucy feels pushed aside by the arrival of her sister. One day she accidentally leaves her wax doll in the window of her bedroom and her face melts; ruining her completely. She is severely punished by her family and starts to feel like no one really loves her at all.

When she thinks she has spotted her old Nurse walking down the street from her bedroom window, Lucy makes a snap decision, deciding to make a run for it and try to escape. Of course it wasn't her nurse but a total stranger and Lucy finds herself lost on the streets of Victorian London scared and alone, Her clothes get stolen by a mean thieving woman and street girl Kitty comes to the rescue.

I won't share any spoilers here, but The Runaway Girls tells the story of the strong friendship that develops between Lucy and Kitty; despite their huge differences in upbringing and backgrounds. When her Father fails to recognise her in her ragged clothes, Lucy decides to stay with Kitty and experiences some exhilarating, heart warming and quite frankly terrifying experiences along the way, showing that true friendship can be found in even the most unorthodox of scenarios!

My daughter and I read The Runaway Girls together and she thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters are built up so.perfectly that you can picture them clearly, hear their dialogue in your mind and relate to all their ever changing emotions, At 7, my daughter did find some of the Victorian terms unfamiliar (such as crinoline and reticule) but this was actually quite educational as she looked them up on google to find an image of what they looked like and help her understanding).

My daughter did feel that the ending didn't quite tell her everything she wanted to know but I believe this is done on purpose, allowing children to form their own view of what may have happened next after the story concludes. My daughter was able to tell me her hopes for Lucy & Kitty and it was lovely to hear her talk about the characters with such enthusiasm..

A great read for JW fans!

(This will be shared on the blog towards the end of Feb for Must have Reads for March)

There is just something so special about Jacqueline Wilson's books! I've been reading her books since I was a little girl and I still manage even now to find myself so wrapped up in her stories. She's fantastic and I hope she never stops writing such magical tales. Her books got me through childhood and helped me grow so it's so lovely to be reviewing one of her books early. She deserves all the praise for this book, it was beautifully written and so heart-warming but tense at the same time. Jacqueline Wilson always manages to write such a sad story in a lovely way, I hope we see more of Lucy and Kitty in the future as I found myself wanting more at the end of the book. I have nothing but praise for Jacqueline Wilson and I hope everyone reads this book, no matter their age because it's a brilliant escape.

My 10 year old daughter is a voracious reader and a dedicated Jacqueline Wilson fan so, when the opportunity arose to read and review 'The Runaway Girls', she jumped at it.
My daughter devoured the book in one sitting, entirely enraptured from the first page then, upon completion, proceeded to read it a second time and reading her favourite passages out loud to me. She laughed, she loved the tie-ins to Jacqueline Wilson's other Victoriana novels and she loved the characters, describing the book as 'amazing' and that her friends would all really like it too. However, she didn't think it was as good some of Jacqueline Wilson's other books so would give it 4 stars.