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Tracy Beaker #2
The Dare Game: A Tracy Beaker Story
Tracy is back on TV in My Mum Tracy Beaker! Watch the major TV series on CBBC and iPlayer. A fabulous new cover look for this brilliant story starring Tracy Beaker, Jacqueline Wilson's most enduring and popular character.I'm Tracy Beaker, the Great Inventor of Extremely Outrageous Dares - and I dare YOU not to say this is the most brilliant story ever! I've bought a big fat purple notebook for writing down all my mega-manic ultra-scary stories in. But especially for my own story. Of how my foster-mum, Cam, has turned out to be a real meanie. No designer clothes, when I really need them. A pokey flat, and a horrible new school. No wonder I keep bunking off . . . Still, it will have to do until my real mum comes and gets me. And until then, no-one is going to be better at the Dare Game than me!
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 2, 2000
89 people are currently reading
1602 people want to read
About the author
Jacqueline Wilson
399 books5,686 followersJacqueline Wilson was born in Bath in 1945, but spent most of her childhood in Kingston-on-Thames. She always wanted to be a writer and wrote her first ‘novel’ when she was nine, filling in countless Woolworths’ exercise books as she grew up. As a teenager she started work for a magazine publishing company and then went on to work as a journalist on Jackie magazine (which she was told was named after her!) before turning to writing novels full-time.
One of Jacqueline’s most successful and enduring creations has been the famous Tracy Beaker, who first appeared in 1991 in The Story of Tracy Beaker. This was also the first of her books to be illustrated by Nick Sharratt. Since then Jacqueline has been on countless awards shortlists and has gone on to win many awards. The Illustrated Mum won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award, the 1999 Children’s Book of the Year at the British Book Awards and was also shortlisted for the 1999 Whitbread Children’s Book Award.
Double Act won the prestigious Smarties Medal and the Children’s Book Award as well as being highly commended for the Carnegie Medal. The Story of Tracy Beaker won the 2002 Blue Peter People’s Choice Award.
Jacqueline is one of the nation’s favourite authors, and her books are loved and cherished by young readers not only in the UK but all over the world. She has sold millions of books and in the UK alone the total now stands at over 35 million!
In 2002 Jacqueline was awarded the OBE for services to literacy in schools and from 2005 to 2007 she was the Children’s Laureate. In 2008 she became Dame Jacqueline Wilson.
One of Jacqueline’s most successful and enduring creations has been the famous Tracy Beaker, who first appeared in 1991 in The Story of Tracy Beaker. This was also the first of her books to be illustrated by Nick Sharratt. Since then Jacqueline has been on countless awards shortlists and has gone on to win many awards. The Illustrated Mum won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award, the 1999 Children’s Book of the Year at the British Book Awards and was also shortlisted for the 1999 Whitbread Children’s Book Award.
Double Act won the prestigious Smarties Medal and the Children’s Book Award as well as being highly commended for the Carnegie Medal. The Story of Tracy Beaker won the 2002 Blue Peter People’s Choice Award.
Jacqueline is one of the nation’s favourite authors, and her books are loved and cherished by young readers not only in the UK but all over the world. She has sold millions of books and in the UK alone the total now stands at over 35 million!
In 2002 Jacqueline was awarded the OBE for services to literacy in schools and from 2005 to 2007 she was the Children’s Laureate. In 2008 she became Dame Jacqueline Wilson.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
November 11, 2019
I've always loved Jacky for as long as I can remember. Tracy is one of her most popular characters, and one of mine, too. My favourite would have to be Hetty Feather.
Anyway, this book is absolutely fab. Tracy is boisterous as always, but so much fun. I'm not going to give the book away, but I HAVE to explain why the title is "The Dare Game".
If you've read other Tracy Beaker books (which are all brill, by the way) you would know that she has to win EVERY SINGLE DARE. EVER!!! So in this book she plays 'The Dare Game' with some mates and she HAS to win. The game has some unexpected consequences, though!
This book is full of heartbreak but it is also hilarious. It also shows Tracy's happy ending, which I'm glad about. I would definitely recommend this for 9 years or over. It has some Tracy Beaker attitude with censored swearing.
Anyway, this book is absolutely fab. Tracy is boisterous as always, but so much fun. I'm not going to give the book away, but I HAVE to explain why the title is "The Dare Game".
If you've read other Tracy Beaker books (which are all brill, by the way) you would know that she has to win EVERY SINGLE DARE. EVER!!! So in this book she plays 'The Dare Game' with some mates and she HAS to win. The game has some unexpected consequences, though!
This book is full of heartbreak but it is also hilarious. It also shows Tracy's happy ending, which I'm glad about. I would definitely recommend this for 9 years or over. It has some Tracy Beaker attitude with censored swearing.
April 3, 2017
yet more Childhood Anecdotes By Percy:
i mean, yeah, this book was supposed to be anti peer-pressure and anti-reckless behaviour and stuff but because i was a hopeless, ridiculous, irredeemable child i invented my own Dare Game. i didn't break my leg tho so it was fine lol. (i did break a toilet though. i stood on it. fell in the cistern. smashed a pipe. i wasn't even a heavy child!! damn shoddy workmanship if you ask me.)
i mean, yeah, this book was supposed to be anti peer-pressure and anti-reckless behaviour and stuff but because i was a hopeless, ridiculous, irredeemable child i invented my own Dare Game. i didn't break my leg tho so it was fine lol. (i did break a toilet though. i stood on it. fell in the cistern. smashed a pipe. i wasn't even a heavy child!! damn shoddy workmanship if you ask me.)
April 5, 2025
با اختلاف بهترین جلد این مجموعه. بالاخره مادر تریسی از راه میرسد. تریسی به زیباترین شکل قدردانی را میآموزد و همراه با دو شخصیتِ پسر فوتبالی و الکساندر، مشکلاتش را در میان میگذارد و دنیا را میکاود و دیوانهبازی در میآورد. تقابلِ بیعرضه بودنِ الکساندر و لات بودن پسر فوتبالی و یکدنده بودن تریسی یک داستان بینهایت دلانگیزِ کودکانه را رقم میزند که در کشاکشش، درس زندگی هست. زیباترین. گور پدرِ مادرِ تریسی.
September 21, 2011
‘The Dare Game’ is the second instalment from the Tracy Beaker series by Jacqueline Wilson. Tracy has just entered into a new life with her foster mother, Cam, but longs for a life with her biological mother, Carly Beaker, who she believes to be a glamorous movie star.
The book follows Tracy’s plight to escape Cam, who refuses to buy her designer clothes, and lives in a dingy flat, and explore the glamorous lifestyle she imagines her biological mother to lead.
Tracy discovers that all is not as it seems with her mother, and soon realises, with the help of new found friends, that her life in foster care wasn’t so bad after all.
I like how book is narrated by Tracy, the language is simple yet effective, and the content is generally humorous. I believe that this would be engaging for children as they would feel a connection with the Tracy and her story.
The cover is impressive: vibrant and colourful, and the book features illustrations throughout, which I feel help develop the story whilst allowing readers to clearly imagine the events.
‘The Dare Game’ tackles issues of fostering, truancy, bad behaviour, friendship and peer pressure, all of which could be an excellent stimulus for classroom debate or ‘circle time’. Also, the descriptive nature of the book and attention to detail could provide a good starting point for some interesting art work.
This book is recommended as suitable reading for children aged 9-11. Reading the book, I occasionally felt that certain use of language or events were reaching slightly beyond this age-group, although I would find it most suitable for a year 6 class.
Overall, I enjoyed this book as an adult and am fairly certain it would prove a great read for a child too.
The book follows Tracy’s plight to escape Cam, who refuses to buy her designer clothes, and lives in a dingy flat, and explore the glamorous lifestyle she imagines her biological mother to lead.
Tracy discovers that all is not as it seems with her mother, and soon realises, with the help of new found friends, that her life in foster care wasn’t so bad after all.
I like how book is narrated by Tracy, the language is simple yet effective, and the content is generally humorous. I believe that this would be engaging for children as they would feel a connection with the Tracy and her story.
The cover is impressive: vibrant and colourful, and the book features illustrations throughout, which I feel help develop the story whilst allowing readers to clearly imagine the events.
‘The Dare Game’ tackles issues of fostering, truancy, bad behaviour, friendship and peer pressure, all of which could be an excellent stimulus for classroom debate or ‘circle time’. Also, the descriptive nature of the book and attention to detail could provide a good starting point for some interesting art work.
This book is recommended as suitable reading for children aged 9-11. Reading the book, I occasionally felt that certain use of language or events were reaching slightly beyond this age-group, although I would find it most suitable for a year 6 class.
Overall, I enjoyed this book as an adult and am fairly certain it would prove a great read for a child too.
April 16, 2023
The Dare Game is a childhood favourite of mine and I still loved it rereading it as an adult. I love The Tracy Beaker series!
⭐Storyline⭐
Tracy Beaker is back and she's living with her new foster mother Cam. However living with Cam isn't at all how Tracy expected. Tracy is disappointed that Cam won't buy her everything that she wants or let her do whatever she wants including not having to go to her horrid new school. Tracy bunks off and makes two unlikely friends. However it seems like Tracy won't be sticking around anyway as her mum has contacted her out of the blue and wants Tracy to live with her. It's a dream come true for Tracy or is it...?
⭐My thoughts ⭐
The story conveys a lot of important messages for kids and adults alike. I like how Tracy grows throughout the story and realises that money and material things aren't important. As a child, I thought that Tracy's mum was cool and glamorous and I wanted Tracy and her mum to have their "happy ever after" but now as an adult I hate Tracy's mum. Tracy's mum, Carly is a complete b*tch who puts her boyfriends and her own needs over her own child. I'm glad that Tracy realises what a piece of work Carly is and just how much Cam loves and cares for her. It goes to show that real love, family and motherhood doesn't always come in the most traditional forms. It was a very heartwarming story.
⭐Grade⭐
A*
⭐Will I add it to my bookshelf?:⭐
Well it's been on my shelf for 20 years and will remain there for life. If I ever have kids, I hope they'll read it.
⭐Storyline⭐
Tracy Beaker is back and she's living with her new foster mother Cam. However living with Cam isn't at all how Tracy expected. Tracy is disappointed that Cam won't buy her everything that she wants or let her do whatever she wants including not having to go to her horrid new school. Tracy bunks off and makes two unlikely friends. However it seems like Tracy won't be sticking around anyway as her mum has contacted her out of the blue and wants Tracy to live with her. It's a dream come true for Tracy or is it...?
⭐My thoughts ⭐
The story conveys a lot of important messages for kids and adults alike. I like how Tracy grows throughout the story and realises that money and material things aren't important. As a child, I thought that Tracy's mum was cool and glamorous and I wanted Tracy and her mum to have their "happy ever after" but now as an adult I hate Tracy's mum. Tracy's mum, Carly is a complete b*tch who puts her boyfriends and her own needs over her own child. I'm glad that Tracy realises what a piece of work Carly is and just how much Cam loves and cares for her. It goes to show that real love, family and motherhood doesn't always come in the most traditional forms. It was a very heartwarming story.
⭐Grade⭐
A*
⭐Will I add it to my bookshelf?:⭐
Well it's been on my shelf for 20 years and will remain there for life. If I ever have kids, I hope they'll read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2014
I decided to re-read this book recently because I have been adoring my old Jacqueline Wilson collection and having an adventure with my blasts from the past. Tracy Beaker is probably the most famous character that Jacqueline Wilson has created. This being the second book of her adventures, its a no-brainer that I enjoyed it so much.
'The Dare Game' is the second instalment of Tracy Beaker's life. She is living with her foster mum, Cam, who she adored from the first book, however she still has the want and desire to be accepted and loved by her real mum. Tracy seems a lot more grown up in this book, as whilst she's writing about her mum being 'famous' and an 'actress', she says something along the lines of: 'who am I kidding?' She seems to be a lot more adapted and understanding of reality. However, in the story, Tracy's mum soon bobs out of the blue and Tracy finds herself considering which home is her real home. Throughout the book Tracy embarks on new adventures and meets new people and goes to different places, finding out where she belongs. However, is there no place like home? Or was home where she began?
As before, Jacqueline has single handedly shown the truth of care homes and how children feel. Yes, some care homes are quite nice and the children are treated fabulously, however people seem to forget that children want to feel nurtured, and Jacqueline has used Tracy to portray these feelings impeccably.
Jacqueline has successfully shown a change in personality of Tracy. She seems more down to Earth, and although she is still outrageous and rude sometimes, she is still accepting and loving. She seems more in touch with her feelings. I think this is a wise ordeal of Jacqueline. She has allowed readers to connect with Tracy in the book before, so now you feel even more connected as she grows along with you. Jacqueline has also structured the book beautifully, by having each chapter describe someones home. This home is where Tracy is for now, so even if it's just a make believe treehouse, Jacqueline has made the chapter for it. I think this is a good idea and shows a lot more depth towards the story. The overall moral, to me anyway, is to do with finding out where you belong and finding where you are accepted for who you are and finding who loves you, and I think by structuring the chapters like this and having each chapter resemble a place, it shows Tracy's journey and begins to highlight the moral for you more-so.
Jacqueline has also added some new characters so you're not stuck with the same old characters from before. Of course, there are mentioning moments of the previous, but Jacqueline has successfully made you remember rather then forcing you to acknowledge them. I also think this touch of new characters is based on moving on and growing up, as Tracy's life is doing just that.
As always, I am not the target audience for this book anymore, however I still loved the book. It's a lot more grown up then the previous book, and you still are able to have opinions of the characters which you can create yourself considering Jacqueline doesn't force their personalities down your throat.
'The Dare Game' is the second instalment of Tracy Beaker's life. She is living with her foster mum, Cam, who she adored from the first book, however she still has the want and desire to be accepted and loved by her real mum. Tracy seems a lot more grown up in this book, as whilst she's writing about her mum being 'famous' and an 'actress', she says something along the lines of: 'who am I kidding?' She seems to be a lot more adapted and understanding of reality. However, in the story, Tracy's mum soon bobs out of the blue and Tracy finds herself considering which home is her real home. Throughout the book Tracy embarks on new adventures and meets new people and goes to different places, finding out where she belongs. However, is there no place like home? Or was home where she began?
As before, Jacqueline has single handedly shown the truth of care homes and how children feel. Yes, some care homes are quite nice and the children are treated fabulously, however people seem to forget that children want to feel nurtured, and Jacqueline has used Tracy to portray these feelings impeccably.
Jacqueline has successfully shown a change in personality of Tracy. She seems more down to Earth, and although she is still outrageous and rude sometimes, she is still accepting and loving. She seems more in touch with her feelings. I think this is a wise ordeal of Jacqueline. She has allowed readers to connect with Tracy in the book before, so now you feel even more connected as she grows along with you. Jacqueline has also structured the book beautifully, by having each chapter describe someones home. This home is where Tracy is for now, so even if it's just a make believe treehouse, Jacqueline has made the chapter for it. I think this is a good idea and shows a lot more depth towards the story. The overall moral, to me anyway, is to do with finding out where you belong and finding where you are accepted for who you are and finding who loves you, and I think by structuring the chapters like this and having each chapter resemble a place, it shows Tracy's journey and begins to highlight the moral for you more-so.
Jacqueline has also added some new characters so you're not stuck with the same old characters from before. Of course, there are mentioning moments of the previous, but Jacqueline has successfully made you remember rather then forcing you to acknowledge them. I also think this touch of new characters is based on moving on and growing up, as Tracy's life is doing just that.
As always, I am not the target audience for this book anymore, however I still loved the book. It's a lot more grown up then the previous book, and you still are able to have opinions of the characters which you can create yourself considering Jacqueline doesn't force their personalities down your throat.
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April 21, 2018
Excellent childhood classic
June 24, 2012
I thought the Dare Game was a great book like the majority of Jacqueline Wilson's books! Jacqueline Wilson deals with things that could, and probably are happening to children somewhere. In this story Tracy has to decide whether she would like to carry on living with foster mum cam (she complains about her never buying her designer clothes and living in a poky little flat) or start living with her mum-the famous Carly Beaker! Its Tracy's dream come true-or so she thought. When Tracy goes to stay for the weekend with her mum, she leaves her by herself, and Tracy becomes scared. Then, the next morning Carly tells Tracy that she wont be here next weekend as she has been 'offered a part in a movie she really cant resist'. The truth is that she has been asked out to the races for the weekend with her boyfriend! I would recommend this book to be on the shelf in any KS2 classroom, a great read.
January 21, 2024
Very good book to read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2021
Jacqueline Wilson kembali menyuguhkan cerita kurang bahagia anak-anak yang berasal dari keluarga pecah, anak yang menjadi bahan bullyan di sekolah dan lingkungannya dan anak yang kurang kasih saying keluarga. Sedih membacanya, tapi anak-anak tetaplah anak-anak. Dalam kesedihan dan kehidupan yang tidak ideal bagi mereka, tetap ada waktu untuk bermain. Tetap membutuhkan petualangan bersama anak lain. Tracy Baker, anak perempuan badung dari panti asuhan adalah salah satu anak dalam Kondisi itu. Tracy tinggal bersama ibu asuhnya, Cam. Seorang penulis dengan rambut pendek, tidak pernah dandan, tidak wangi dan jauh dari kesan glamour sebagaimana Elaine ibu kandung Tracy. Ibu kandung yang sangat diidolakannya, yang meninggalkannya di panti asuhan saat masih kecil. Cam yang jahat, tidak membelikan Tracy baju-baju desainer terkenal.
Tracy bertemu disebuah tempat rahasia dengan Alexander dan Football, dua anak laki-laki dengan masalahnya masing-masing. Disebuah rumah kosong tak berpenghuni, mereka bermain dan melakukan permainan tantangan yang bodoh dan mengandung resiko bahaya.
Tracy bertemu disebuah tempat rahasia dengan Alexander dan Football, dua anak laki-laki dengan masalahnya masing-masing. Disebuah rumah kosong tak berpenghuni, mereka bermain dan melakukan permainan tantangan yang bodoh dan mengandung resiko bahaya.
April 4, 2021
Yeah. I'm binging on Jacqueline Wilson books, which I should have done years ago.
Back to the book:
I can see why this has gotten so famous, because Tracy's personality is so strong that readers will probably be able to imagine her in real life. I liked the other characters too, especially Carly Beaker and Cam. Alexander reminds me of one of my own characters and football's name is hilarious. I really liked reading the bits of trouble Tracy gets into, and how she reacts to things. Of course, looking after her would be a feat for anyone, but it's sure fun reading what she does!
Back to the book:
I can see why this has gotten so famous, because Tracy's personality is so strong that readers will probably be able to imagine her in real life. I liked the other characters too, especially Carly Beaker and Cam. Alexander reminds me of one of my own characters and football's name is hilarious. I really liked reading the bits of trouble Tracy gets into, and how she reacts to things. Of course, looking after her would be a feat for anyone, but it's sure fun reading what she does!
May 21, 2019
I love Tracy Beaker. She is a funny 10 year old and is friends with two boys named Alexander and Football. She is always bunking off school and she is fostered. Her real mum is a ‘Hollywood’ Actress with a lot of fame. Her name is Carly. Her foster mum is called Cam (Camilla) and her social worker is called Elaine (The Pain!). Tracy is very mischievous and can be very cheeky at times. This book is amazing and could be enjoyed by 8-14 year olds. Thank you for reading my review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2019
I forgot how much I adored the Tracy Beaker books.
July 10, 2021
This book was as exciting as all others of Tracy Beaker's books.
i loved the dare game and still remember the part where she dares to climb a tree with no knickers on, lol i used to adore her!
i loved the dare game and still remember the part where she dares to climb a tree with no knickers on, lol i used to adore her!
August 14, 2021
A very strong sequel to an excellent book. I thought this did an excellent job of expanding out from the first book, adding lots of interesting new characters and situations. Both kids (aged 10 and 7) loved it too
November 9, 2021
2021 EDIT: Turns out it was my nostalgia clouding my judgement in my old review of 'The Dare Game'.
Tracy Beaker really is an annoying, horrible and whiny kid, and it was insufferable being stuck in her stuck-up head for 245 pages (well, 241, actually, as unfathomably my copy of the book had a few pages missing around the beginning, even though it was brand new. Not that it mattered, anyway; the less time with Tracy Beaker and her thoughts, the better). I said it best even in my first, more positive review: '[Tracy is] like Pippi Longstocking except 1000 times more selfish and 1000 times less talented and fun to be around. She's cruel, narcissistic and a bully; with an ego the size of the Pacific Ocean'.
I don't think I've ever read about a more selfish, thoughtless, egotistical, inconsiderate, tantrum-throwing, pathetic, reckless and borderline criminal child protagonist in any other book. Tracy is a manipulative bully to boot. She's not tough, she's just a brat. So there's no sympathy to be had from me towards this foster child.
'The Dare Game' also has a confusing timeline at first, muddling up events and what's supposed to be happening in the present, because future Tracy sometimes spoils things.
There is also a really, really uncomfortable part about Tracy and a bullied kid she just met, Alexander, whom she bullies, too - involving Alexander being made fun of in his schools' showers, Tracy daring him to say stuff to get him to stand up for himself, and comparing middle school boys' penis sizes. I won't dare (oh god) elaborate any further. I know it's just kids messing around, but seriously, WTF? Why did that have to be there? Who let that pass and allowed it to be published?
That moment is bad enough, but on the same page, Tracy forces Alexander to be her friend. Here is how the exchange goes (bold highlighted text mine):
'"[...] I dare you. There. Now you've got to say it. If you want to be my friend."
Alexander looked puzzled. "Are we friends?"
The cheek of it!
"Don't you want to be friends?" I demanded.
Alexander nodded. Wisely.
"Right. So we're friends. And we'll meet up again tomorrow?" I said.
Same time. Same place. He'd better be there. I hope he organizes some more refreshments.' - page 85
Our heroine, ladies and gentlemen and nonbinary persons.
There's no question that Tracy Beaker is a bully who browbeats and threatens those weaker than she is. She does this to practically everybody, actually. Simply put: if you don't do what she wants you to do, then you are her enemy deserving torment. Lord help you if you don't meet her extravagantly high expectations, and don't bow to her every demand and whim all the time. Or else she'll let you know it, through shouting and wailing, and even physical violence occasionally.
Why should I care about her, again?
Then there's this line by the character Football (we never find out his real name, and it is so silly and awkward with everyone calling him that, like it is his real name and it's totally normal): '"Women footballers are rubbish"' (page 114). He doesn't get called out on it. So, yeah, *raises middle finger, and it stays permanently attached to this book*.
'The Dare Game' - I see the light, and I'm glad to be rid of the book at last.
Final Score: 2/5
The only Tracy Beaker book that I've not only tolerated, but genuinely enjoyed. Ha.
'The Dare Game' is fun yet sad at the same time. It highlights the difficulties of foster care, of raising problematic children, and how being related to someone by blood does not mean ownership or love.
Tracy Beaker can be a pain - I think of her as like Pippi Longstocking except 1000 times more selfish and 1000 times less talented and fun to be around. She's cruel, narcissistic and a bully; with an ego the size of the Pacific Ocean. But she is a young foster kid who's had a hard life and is tired of authoritative adults dictating her. She appears to be an anti-Pollyanna, or anti-Little Orphan Annie. In 'The Dare Game', Tracy is no longer in a care home (but will that last?), and she makes two male friends on her journey towards finding out what parental love, friendship and devotion really mean.
I don't know, 'The Dare Game' was one of my favourite books as a kid, despite having one of the most annoying protagonists in children's literature. It is almost painfully realistic, and bittersweet, yet playful and creative. The characters are well-rounded, dynamic and colourful. Despite its harrowing moments and themes, it contains funny scenes as well. It's a good balance; Jacqueline Wilson doesn't talk down to her target audience. She doesn't shy away from the "life is hard" message to children. But life has its wonderful, worthwhile moments too.
A sequel that can be read as a standalone, 'The Dare Game' is a rollercoaster; a sad clown; a juggling gut-puncher; a faraway light in a teary-eyed gloom.
Final Score: 4/5
Tracy Beaker really is an annoying, horrible and whiny kid, and it was insufferable being stuck in her stuck-up head for 245 pages (well, 241, actually, as unfathomably my copy of the book had a few pages missing around the beginning, even though it was brand new. Not that it mattered, anyway; the less time with Tracy Beaker and her thoughts, the better). I said it best even in my first, more positive review: '[Tracy is] like Pippi Longstocking except 1000 times more selfish and 1000 times less talented and fun to be around. She's cruel, narcissistic and a bully; with an ego the size of the Pacific Ocean'.
I don't think I've ever read about a more selfish, thoughtless, egotistical, inconsiderate, tantrum-throwing, pathetic, reckless and borderline criminal child protagonist in any other book. Tracy is a manipulative bully to boot. She's not tough, she's just a brat. So there's no sympathy to be had from me towards this foster child.
'The Dare Game' also has a confusing timeline at first, muddling up events and what's supposed to be happening in the present, because future Tracy sometimes spoils things.
There is also a really, really uncomfortable part about Tracy and a bullied kid she just met, Alexander, whom she bullies, too - involving Alexander being made fun of in his schools' showers, Tracy daring him to say stuff to get him to stand up for himself, and comparing middle school boys' penis sizes. I won't dare (oh god) elaborate any further. I know it's just kids messing around, but seriously, WTF? Why did that have to be there? Who let that pass and allowed it to be published?
That moment is bad enough, but on the same page, Tracy forces Alexander to be her friend. Here is how the exchange goes (bold highlighted text mine):
'"[...] I dare you. There. Now you've got to say it. If you want to be my friend."
Alexander looked puzzled. "Are we friends?"
The cheek of it!
"Don't you want to be friends?" I demanded.
Alexander nodded. Wisely.
"Right. So we're friends. And we'll meet up again tomorrow?" I said.
Same time. Same place. He'd better be there. I hope he organizes some more refreshments.' - page 85
Our heroine, ladies and gentlemen and nonbinary persons.
There's no question that Tracy Beaker is a bully who browbeats and threatens those weaker than she is. She does this to practically everybody, actually. Simply put: if you don't do what she wants you to do, then you are her enemy deserving torment. Lord help you if you don't meet her extravagantly high expectations, and don't bow to her every demand and whim all the time. Or else she'll let you know it, through shouting and wailing, and even physical violence occasionally.
Why should I care about her, again?
Then there's this line by the character Football (we never find out his real name, and it is so silly and awkward with everyone calling him that, like it is his real name and it's totally normal): '"Women footballers are rubbish"' (page 114). He doesn't get called out on it. So, yeah, *raises middle finger, and it stays permanently attached to this book*.
'The Dare Game' - I see the light, and I'm glad to be rid of the book at last.
Final Score: 2/5
'The Dare Game' is fun yet sad at the same time. It highlights the difficulties of foster care, of raising problematic children, and how being related to someone by blood does not mean ownership or love.
Tracy Beaker can be a pain - I think of her as like Pippi Longstocking except 1000 times more selfish and 1000 times less talented and fun to be around. She's cruel, narcissistic and a bully; with an ego the size of the Pacific Ocean. But she is a young foster kid who's had a hard life and is tired of authoritative adults dictating her. She appears to be an anti-Pollyanna, or anti-Little Orphan Annie. In 'The Dare Game', Tracy is no longer in a care home (but will that last?), and she makes two male friends on her journey towards finding out what parental love, friendship and devotion really mean.
I don't know, 'The Dare Game' was one of my favourite books as a kid, despite having one of the most annoying protagonists in children's literature. It is almost painfully realistic, and bittersweet, yet playful and creative. The characters are well-rounded, dynamic and colourful. Despite its harrowing moments and themes, it contains funny scenes as well. It's a good balance; Jacqueline Wilson doesn't talk down to her target audience. She doesn't shy away from the "life is hard" message to children. But life has its wonderful, worthwhile moments too.
A sequel that can be read as a standalone, 'The Dare Game' is a rollercoaster; a sad clown; a juggling gut-puncher; a faraway light in a teary-eyed gloom.
Final Score: 4/5
June 19, 2020
4.25 stars
February 17, 2021
Didn’t enjoy as much as the first, wasn’t exactly where I thought it was going but it was nostalgic and fun.
June 28, 2018
I preferred this sequel to the original Tracy Beaker story. I thought this one was a lot more interesting, Tracy was much more developed as a character and you can see how much she's grown since the first book. It also had some fantastic supporting characters in Cam, Football and Alexander who all have their own issues to deal with.
Many themes are covered in this book: fostering, truancy, peer pressure and bad behaviour. Wilson has a brilliant way of discussing these serious topics in a light hearted and humorous way, whilst still emphasising the impact they have on people.
Nick Sharratt's illustrations were fantastic again and really added to the story.
Many themes are covered in this book: fostering, truancy, peer pressure and bad behaviour. Wilson has a brilliant way of discussing these serious topics in a light hearted and humorous way, whilst still emphasising the impact they have on people.
Nick Sharratt's illustrations were fantastic again and really added to the story.
September 28, 2015
Wilson is great at making realistic characters that you can quickly come to term with, giving realistic reactions to events.
Her books are great at getting children to really think about actions and their consequences, really opening the eyes of children to the world. Some of her books are sensitive reads yet they are all great at sending life messages to children.
I feel as though Wilson books are a must in the lives of young children, a way of opening their eyes to the real world in the right way.
Her books are great at getting children to really think about actions and their consequences, really opening the eyes of children to the world. Some of her books are sensitive reads yet they are all great at sending life messages to children.
I feel as though Wilson books are a must in the lives of young children, a way of opening their eyes to the real world in the right way.
July 17, 2012
Read along time along time ago but was funny to read and will read again soon.
March 9, 2018
Horrid
Big Read 200
Big Read 200
August 29, 2015
I did not really like this book. It was boring.
September 10, 2018
An easy to read novel for children. I like the fact Wilson focuses on real life issues that may be affecting her audience.
December 5, 2022
I originally read this book when I was around 11 years old. However, during lockdown and doing some spring cleaning I came across my set of Jacqueline Wilson books that I have. I decided to re-read and then review them.
This book is based on Tracy Beaker who we met in The Story of Tracy Beaker. She claims she is the great inventor of extremely outrageous dares and she dares you to read a more brilliant story than this. She has bought a big purple notebook for writing down all of her mega scary stories in. But she wants to write her own story. She will tell you how her foster-mum, Cam, is a proper meanie. No designer clothes, when she really wants and needs them. A pokey flat, and a horrible new school. No wonder Tracy is constantly bunking off. She is waiting for her real mum to come and get her. Until then, no one is going to better at the Dare Game than Tracy Beaker. This book is a children���s book.
Holy hell, how were we allowed to read this as children. As I twenty-two-year-old reading this, it was amazed me how much horrified things there were – Tracy, crawling up an evergreen tree with no knickers on, Alexander jumping out of a window – yes, I'm aware it’s fictional, but children wouldn’t know it’s fictional. The underlining storyline of not needing the designer clothes and things, and home is where the heart is, was great and endearing but the dare game side of it made me want to throw up.
I generally concerned about what the next books are going to be about and how many warnings I might need to put on these reviews.
This book is based on Tracy Beaker who we met in The Story of Tracy Beaker. She claims she is the great inventor of extremely outrageous dares and she dares you to read a more brilliant story than this. She has bought a big purple notebook for writing down all of her mega scary stories in. But she wants to write her own story. She will tell you how her foster-mum, Cam, is a proper meanie. No designer clothes, when she really wants and needs them. A pokey flat, and a horrible new school. No wonder Tracy is constantly bunking off. She is waiting for her real mum to come and get her. Until then, no one is going to better at the Dare Game than Tracy Beaker. This book is a children���s book.
Holy hell, how were we allowed to read this as children. As I twenty-two-year-old reading this, it was amazed me how much horrified things there were – Tracy, crawling up an evergreen tree with no knickers on, Alexander jumping out of a window – yes, I'm aware it’s fictional, but children wouldn’t know it’s fictional. The underlining storyline of not needing the designer clothes and things, and home is where the heart is, was great and endearing but the dare game side of it made me want to throw up.
I generally concerned about what the next books are going to be about and how many warnings I might need to put on these reviews.
November 22, 2020
I read this with Miss 8 & I didn’t enjoy it. We both found it a bit boring & it dragged.
From my perspective I found the themes of the book to be a bit too adult for children to read.
⚠️⚠️ Spoilers ⚠️⚠️
To give a couple of examples of the adult themes - Tracy’s Mum goes out to get drunk leaving her at home on her own. When she eventually returns home she has brought a man with her & is disappointed when she remembers Tracy is there.
My daughter asked why this was the case but assumed it was that the man helped her get home & was disappointed to know she had a child because she shouldn’t have left her at home on her own. I don’t feel that there is any way to explain this to 8/9 year olds.
The other thing I found was the children bunking off school with seemingly no consequences & the dares that involved Tracy removing her knickers from under her skirt in the presence of two boys & then climbing up a tree! It was a good opportunity to remind Miss 8 that in actual fact, we don’t take out knickers off in public or in front of others, even if there dare us or tell us it’s a secret.
Perhaps I am too overprotective, I realise the book was written a long time ago but not so long ago that it was safe to put these anecdotes in a children’s story.
It has put me off reading any further stories about Tracy in the future.
From my perspective I found the themes of the book to be a bit too adult for children to read.
⚠️⚠️ Spoilers ⚠️⚠️
To give a couple of examples of the adult themes - Tracy’s Mum goes out to get drunk leaving her at home on her own. When she eventually returns home she has brought a man with her & is disappointed when she remembers Tracy is there.
My daughter asked why this was the case but assumed it was that the man helped her get home & was disappointed to know she had a child because she shouldn’t have left her at home on her own. I don’t feel that there is any way to explain this to 8/9 year olds.
The other thing I found was the children bunking off school with seemingly no consequences & the dares that involved Tracy removing her knickers from under her skirt in the presence of two boys & then climbing up a tree! It was a good opportunity to remind Miss 8 that in actual fact, we don’t take out knickers off in public or in front of others, even if there dare us or tell us it’s a secret.
Perhaps I am too overprotective, I realise the book was written a long time ago but not so long ago that it was safe to put these anecdotes in a children’s story.
It has put me off reading any further stories about Tracy in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2021
Reading this series again as an adult I find Tracey Beaker to be a tedious dislikeable character who is selfish, manipulative, stuck-up, and a bully.
Now she has finally been fostered she is constantly criticising Cam, her foster carer, and always complains about all the materialistic things she wants but can't have, which is very annoying and goes on through most of the book.
In this book she bunks off school and finds an abandoned house, and straight away she discovers another boy called Alexander is already in the house and immediately starts pushing him around even though he was there first. This gets worse towards the end with Tracey and another boy she met earlier that week both ganging up on Alexander and destroying and setting fire to stuff he made.
At the end they manipulate him into doing a dare that Tracey did, which involved jumping out the top floor window onto a tree. He didn't make the tree, fell, and broke his leg, but his parents dont even acknowledge this and take Tracey and the boy in with loving arms at the end like they're Alexander's friends even though they constantly bullied him and almost killed him??
Maybe the fact that I'm reading this from an adult's point of view is shadowing my judgement, but I do seem to remember I disliked Tracey Beaker in the books as a kid as well.
Now she has finally been fostered she is constantly criticising Cam, her foster carer, and always complains about all the materialistic things she wants but can't have, which is very annoying and goes on through most of the book.
In this book she bunks off school and finds an abandoned house, and straight away she discovers another boy called Alexander is already in the house and immediately starts pushing him around even though he was there first. This gets worse towards the end with Tracey and another boy she met earlier that week both ganging up on Alexander and destroying and setting fire to stuff he made.
At the end they manipulate him into doing a dare that Tracey did, which involved jumping out the top floor window onto a tree. He didn't make the tree, fell, and broke his leg, but his parents dont even acknowledge this and take Tracey and the boy in with loving arms at the end like they're Alexander's friends even though they constantly bullied him and almost killed him??
Maybe the fact that I'm reading this from an adult's point of view is shadowing my judgement, but I do seem to remember I disliked Tracey Beaker in the books as a kid as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2021
Yet another Jacqueline Wilson book I must read for work. I grow weary of reading stories about cheeky li'l sprogs bunkin off to cause barney rubble coz their parents ain't togevah no moer.
But damn if Jacqueline Wilson's books aren't just so readable. Her prose is like Pop Rocks.
I haven't read the first Tracy Beaker book, but that's okay, since Tracy fills you in on all the little details you might need about the previous installment. This book was a little more adult than the other Wilson books that I've read.Tracy mom is heavily implied to be... Yeah. Alexander gets bullied because... Yeah. For one of her dares, Tracy... Uh...
I kept thinking about The Great Gilly Hopkins as I read this, though Tracy is a bit more sympathetic than Gilly, despite being pretty rotten. Similar-ish premise, though.
Like I've said about almost every other Jacqueline Wilson book I've had to read, (Except for Vicky Angel, which I enjoyed because it reminded me of an Armor for Sleep album,) I never would have picked this up to read it unless I was getting paid. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this. Wilson never goes to deep or too dark, but skirts the edges of what's acceptable in a compelling way that really lends her stories a bite of realism.
Sidenote: Don't think we don't realize who Cam is, Jackie!
But damn if Jacqueline Wilson's books aren't just so readable. Her prose is like Pop Rocks.
I haven't read the first Tracy Beaker book, but that's okay, since Tracy fills you in on all the little details you might need about the previous installment. This book was a little more adult than the other Wilson books that I've read.Tracy mom is heavily implied to be... Yeah. Alexander gets bullied because... Yeah. For one of her dares, Tracy... Uh...
I kept thinking about The Great Gilly Hopkins as I read this, though Tracy is a bit more sympathetic than Gilly, despite being pretty rotten. Similar-ish premise, though.
Like I've said about almost every other Jacqueline Wilson book I've had to read, (Except for Vicky Angel, which I enjoyed because it reminded me of an Armor for Sleep album,) I never would have picked this up to read it unless I was getting paid. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this. Wilson never goes to deep or too dark, but skirts the edges of what's acceptable in a compelling way that really lends her stories a bite of realism.
Sidenote: Don't think we don't realize who Cam is, Jackie!
September 17, 2021
This is really #3 in the series, and Tracy is finally living with Cam, who is the best foster parent that Tracy could have found. That doesn't mean that everything is rosy in their small shabby apartment. Tracy pines for designer clothes and luxuries which Cam cannot afford, and is mean to her when it appears that her long-absent mother invites her back. Carly Beaker showers her daughter with unsuitable presents and goes out drinking instead of giving Tracy the stability she needs, and Tracy ends up back with Cam. In the meantime, she meets two new boys and they set up a temporary home in an abandoned house. Tracy has invented the Dare Game, which leads to funny and dangerous escapades. As always in Wilson's books, there is plenty of humour! Here, Tracy exaggerates the Home's food for a gullible new friend "Football: "..all these meatloaves made of cow's nostrils and uddery bits, so you get mad cow disease as well as being sick." The British expressions will be exotic to North American readers. the relationship between Cam and the prickly Tracy develops through adversity and is all the stronger for it.
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