Nothing Wrong

Baby Love by Jacqueline Wilson is a powerful and heart-wrenching YA historical novel that I just could not put down. I greedily devoured it and was emotionally invested in the lead character.

The novel is set in 1959 and moves into 1960. It surrounds lead character fourteen-year-old Laura. We see all the action through her eyes and in the first person.

Laura is incredibly likable. She has a huge heart, looking out for those who are marginalised as she has walked in their shoes.

Laura earnt a scholarship to the Grammar School. Her parents, though poor and living in a prefab, are also proud and don’t want hand-outs. They like to try to pay their way.

Laura has struggled to fit in, and recognises herself in eleven-year-old Moira, who has just started at the Grammar School. Moira has a kind heart too. Her friendship is pure, and contrasts sharply with Nina, the local G.P’s daughter who uses her ‘power’ in a ‘friendship’ with Laura. As she dangles the carrot of friendship, Nina can also be rather cruel.

Laura’s innocence is taken advantage of by an older French exchange student. All the blame lies firmly at the feet of Laura. She is not the only girl to end up in a mother and baby home for young girls, after males in authority have abused their positions. It is always the girls who are cast off. The men get away scot-free.

Attitudes to single girls and their babies in 1960 were appalling. The girls were shamed and their babies taken from them to be adopted into ‘good’ families. Identities of the babies were hidden, meaning there was no chance of re-unions in later life. A whole generation of babies never knew their mothers. The modern reader is horrified. We see the damage inflicted on those poor girls whose babies were ripped from their arms.

There is a beautiful bond between Laura and her baby. Despite her youth, she is a good mother. She wants to keep her baby – but her youth is against her. What will happen? Read Baby Love and find out.

I absolutely loved Baby Love. It was a powerful, emotional read. It is awful to witness the patronising attitudes, the lack of support and love given to those who need it most. We rejoice that attitudes have changed today.

Read Baby Love and remember the lost generation of babies and their mums who were torn apart and who had done nothing wrong.

JULIA WILSON