Jelly
by Jo Cotterill
Interest age: 9 to 12
Reading age: 9+
Published by Piccadilly Press, 2018
About this book
Angelica – Jelly for short – is the ‘Funny One’ at school, known for her clever impressions and comedy sketches. But being funny is a fine line and behind all the humour, Jelly’s hiding anxieties about her weight. If they’re laughing with her, they’re not laughing at her, right? And she has another secret too, a secret hobby: writing poetry. Into this she channels all her worries. Nobody knows, not even her mum, and as far as Jelly’s concerned, nobody can ever know. Then her mum gets a lovely new boyfriend who encourages Jelly to show the world the real her. Can she find the courage she needs to stop hiding?
Perfect for readers looking for a real-life story about anxieties, family and school, with themes of body image and self-confidence. Jo Cotterill sensitively layers together the story while Jelly’s concerns – her fear that perhaps people don’t actually like her – are cleverly reflected by the supporting characters. Jelly herself has a strong, positive and inspiring story arc – everyone will be wanting to write and perform their own poetry by the end.
About the author
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