Child X

by Lee Weatherly

Juliet is passionate about acting and has been given the chance to star as the lead role in the play Northern Lights (based on Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass ). But at home, her life is not so happy. Her family starts to disintegrate after her father suddenly and unexpectedly leaves home. What exactly is Juliet’s relationship to her flamboyant actor uncle? And what terrible secret is her mother hiding? This is a moving and powerful story of one girl’s search for her own identity, deftly contrasted with the glamour and excitement of the theater.


From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Young Adult, Family, Drama, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, British Literature, Middle Grade

224 pages, Paperback

First published June 11, 2002

About the author

Lee Weatherly was born in 1967 and grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA. She lives with her husband in Hampshire, England, where she writes, goes on walks, collects frogs, and has a cat named Bernard.

Lee Weatherly also writes under the pseudonyms L.A. Weatherly, Kitty Wells, and Titania Woods.

Reviews

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jules is a happy teen, despite the fact that her parents argue all the time. Then the worst happens, and her father - whom she adores - leaves. He won't even talk to Jules. But things keep getting worse. Suddenly Jules is caught up in a family drama that hits the newspapers & leaves her more hurt and confused than ever.


I like the way that Jules was imperfect but sympathetic. You could really feel her pain & anger & conflict. It wasn't over the top blowing up, but the strain of dealing with what was at home was causing her to withdraw & lose friends too. I was often utterly furious at the adults in this book - particularly her beloved father for much of the story. And despite understanding the father's motivations by the end of the book, I like it that Jules doesn't completely forgive him, but it looks like there may be hope for this messed up family. A really good choice for teen & family drama fans.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: https://hiplibrariansbookblog.com/200...

[Michelle Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jules is a British teenager who adores her dad and simply wishes he and her career-obsessed mom would stop arguing. Suddenly, events escalate, and her dad is simply...gone. Suddenly surrounded by secrets and mysteries that her mom refuses to discuss, Jules life is turned upside down.

I really liked Child X. The book blurbs are purposely without many specifics, and I hate to reveal too much, as this book is best read if you can let the events slowly unfold. There are plenty of hints along the way, but the complicated sitatuion that arises in Jules family brings to light some good questions about what defines family.

Elem note: There is nothing "objectionable" about Child X, but some of the details that complicate Jules' family life might be best suited for a grade 6+/MID+/YA crowd.

[eRin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this one. On the one hand it's a good look at how kids experience divorce. On the other hand, I couldn't get over how the back of the book made it seem so much more interesting than what it actually was.

[Rachel Brand · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book sounded so much more exciting on the backcover than it actually was. I suppose it didn't help that I found 'Northern Lights' disturbing.

[Emily Teigland · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had this book on my shelf and had been meaning to read it, so I finally did. Unfortunately I really did not enjoy this book, the plot was rather anticlimactic, and the characters were stubborn to a point of annoyance. The writing was a bit choppy, although I did enjoy the side plot about theatre. Other than that, I personally don’t recommend this book.

[June Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another page turner by this author, dealing with a child in the middle of a marriage break up, and all that implies, would recommend

[Elaiza Ayap · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not at all bad but not at all good, too. I guessed all the plot twists so they did not shock me at all.

Sort of meh.

[Jane Woodcock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping read of a family caught up in a drama, and the power of the press.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was fantastic

The books about a very large divorce that is all over the news and Jules is in the center of it all. Past secrets are out.

The start of the book for me was quite long but by page 70 I couldn't put it down.

[Segen W]

Child X is an amazing book! I give this book a 5 star rating! I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family! Child X's real name is Julia. She was just a normal girl who loved to act and had two loving parents that argue a lot. One day as her mom and her dad argue at night Julia couldn't stand it any longer but the next day the argument settled down and something felt wrong. When Julia went downstairs she found out that her dad moved out and wanted a divorce also he didn't want to talk to Julia at all. Julia later finds out some shocking that crashed her whole world. You can find out what happens next in the book called Child X!

[Monique · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't do fantasy. I don't care if its the genre or, in this case, part of a show that their doing.

Moving on.....Why do books like this have to have one nice guy then a jerk guy? In this one, the nondad was the nice one and the uncledad was the stuck up mean guy. For instance, The Romeoand Juliet code was like that but instead the mother and nondad were both meanies and the uncledad was the nice sensitive soul.

Didn't like it that much.... so now I'm gonna read a good book about the "Theatre"

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This British novel has an interesting storyline. Jules thinks everything is normal until her parents get in a big fight and her dad leaves and no one will tell her why. She struggles with getting along with her mom and hopes that being in the play Northern Lights will bring her dad back. The story gets a bit far fetched at times but people do do whacky things when the heart is involved. An okay read.

[Rosemary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't what you might expect from the blurb - it's a straightforward story about a 13-year-old girl who becomes the centre of media attention because of the circumstances of her parents' divorce.

The men this book are so cruel to the girl - not physically but emotionally - I found it hard to believe she wasn't more damaged. There's also a suggestion of a 'happy' ending which made me feel a little sick. She's a brave girl, but comes across as rather younger than 13.

[Amy Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was unexpectedly good! While I'm not sure today's tweens and teens would completely get references in the book like "Atari" or "having to go to the library to get information," overall, the story is still a relevant one. I like the way the story was told from the girl's point of view, as you were able to better understand her emotions. Although it was somewhat predictable, it was still a good story, and I felt sympathy for Jules and her unfortunate situation.

[Suzanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well that was awful. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone over the age of 10. The main character is thirteen and incredibly annoying. cuddling mummy on the sofa.. at thirteen? sorry but i don't know any teenager that does that! lol.
Oh and if your intrigued by the title of 'child x' like i was, then don't be. I thought it might be something supernatural or at least interesting. It wasn't.

[7 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes or maybe plenty of times marriages just don't work out well and are ended by getting a divorce. Children will suffer the most. You can see how a child is struggling to survive from her parents' divorce by reading this book.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

i felt that the blurb really spoilt this book for me. Overall the book was a good read but I was always waiting for the exciting adventure and mystery to begin. I was disappointed with the pace of this novel.

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book because it was something I didn't expect to happen. I usually don't read these kind of books but this one seemed to really intrigue me. I love Lee Weatherly and hope to read more of her books.

[Catherine Wrestler · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was good, but the blurb on the back sort of spoiled it for me. Also, I kept waiting for the action and suspense to happen. The pace of this book wasn't as well written as it could have been. Child X was a little too childish to be written for middle schoolers.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

A powerful story showing the powers of the press and how it can change someone’s life forever. Child X is such a thought provoking book even almost 20 years after it was written. Not the most amazing or well written story but a must-read for any age.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a crazy concept that reminded me of the Truman Show.

[Violet]

OMG! I play based on the Golden Compass (AKA "Northen Lights" in the book)!!!! OMG, I love that book!!! I totally must read! (Gosh, I sound like a total teenager...)

[Renae McKenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love this book

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a quick read. It's weird cause all the words are British type things. I dunno. It was decent. I don't know if I would necessarly recommend it.

[Nitramjules · Rating 3 out of 5]

good book

[Addie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really awesome and kind of sad

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

Fantastic. Never cried so much before at a book where no-one died.

Review to follow

[Kit Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

A nice book about a girl's family being divided because of a terrible thing her mom did in the past. Really touched my heart.

[Stephanie A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent thriller in a contemporary setting, especially once the reveal of the title gets underway.