The Suitcase Kid

Name: William Joseph
Price range: $

by Jacqueline Wilson, illustrated by Nick Sharratt

Interest age: 9+
Reading age: 9+

Published by Random House, 2006

Classics
Coming-of-age

About this book

Distraught at her parents' divorce, Andy cannot decide who she wants to live with. She spends one week at Mum's house, the next at Dad's, but never really feels that she belongs anywhere.

This difficult situation, which is worsened by animosity between Andy and her new stepfamilies, has no simple solution. Approached with humour and understanding, this is a very readable tale of confusion, guilt and ultimately optimism, with which many children (and adults) will identify.

About the author

Jacqueline Wilson was born in Bath in 1945, and spent her childhood in Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey, where she still lives today. She started her writing career as a teenage journalist with D.C. Thompson, writing for the teenage magazine Jackie which was named after her. Today her popular books for children have sold millions of copies and have been translated into more than thirty languages.

Jacqueline's books include The Story of Tracy Beaker, which has become a hugely successful BBC TV series; Girls in Love, which together with its two sequels was filmed for ITV television; and Double Act, which she adapted for Channel 4 and which won the Royal TV Society's Best Children's Fiction Award. As the fourth Children's Laureate (2005-2007) she promoted the importance of sharing books, and reading aloud together.

About the illustrator

Nick Sharratt has created illustrations for over two hundred and fifty books during his illustrious career. He has produced over sixty of his own titles, including much-loved favourites Ketchup on Your Cornflakes and Shark in the Park. He has worked with celebrated writers including Julia Donaldson, Kes Gray and Michael Rosen and is well known for his collaboration with Jacqueline Wilson, for whom he’s illustrated more than fifty novels.

He has been the official illustrator for World Book Day and together with Katrina Charman, was awarded the 2021 BookTrust Storytime Prize, he was also the BookTrust Writer-Illustrator in Residence for 2022-23.

What to read next

We know that children can get hooked on a favourite book series or author and struggle to find something they love as much, but we’re here to help.

Jacqueline Wilson: what to read next

We know it's so easy to get attached to a favourite author, and when their books are as good as Jacqueline Wilson's, it's no surprise that some children feel like they'll never find anything they love as much. But we've got some recommendations about great stories they can try next - and we want to hear your ideas too!

More books like this

Little Darlings

by Jacqueline Wilson, illustrated by Nick Sharratt

9 to 14 years
Love Lessons

by Jacqueline Wilson, illustrated by Nick Sharratt

9 to 14 years
Midnight

by Jacqueline Wilson, illustrated by Nick Sharratt

9 to 14 years
The Story of Tracy Beaker

by Jacqueline Wilson, illustrated by Nick Sharratt

5 to 14 years

Explore our Bookfinder

Lists of recommended reads

Best children's books to help talk about divorce and separation

Family break-ups are a sad and delicate time for everyone involved. Here are some of our favourite children's books for easing those difficult conversations, suitable for a range of ages.
Blended families

Families come in all shapes and sizes, and it's validating and comforting to see your family reflected in books.
Five fantastic books about separated families

If your family has separated or is in the process of separating, these brilliant books chosen by Two Places To Call Home author Phil Earle could help children understand and process the change.

Discover more booklists