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Esme Pepper
A funny, heartbreaking and hopeful story of one girl's resilience, from the author of the bestselling Tracy Beaker series.
Esme's mum would do anything for her, including trying to steal the expensive dolls house that Esme desperately wants. When Mum gets caught, Esme has to go into foster care.
When a placement proves hard to find, Esme has to stay with an elderly couple who have retired from fostering. She knows she only has to stay until Mum gets back, but she still has to deal with a new school, and a real idiot of a class bully.
Esme might like to cause trouble, but this time she is going to have to find a way to get along.
Esme's mum would do anything for her, including trying to steal the expensive dolls house that Esme desperately wants. When Mum gets caught, Esme has to go into foster care.
When a placement proves hard to find, Esme has to stay with an elderly couple who have retired from fostering. She knows she only has to stay until Mum gets back, but she still has to deal with a new school, and a real idiot of a class bully.
Esme might like to cause trouble, but this time she is going to have to find a way to get along.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 13, 2026
About the author
Jacqueline Wilson
409 books5,900 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 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 25, 2026
It was sooo good I finished it in less than 24 hours🤩
August 24, 2026
I liked this book, but it's just too much like Tracy Beaker for me to *love* it.
I do like Esme (Es-ME), but I think some of the stuff she does is a little unrealistic.
Mrs Hawes was one of the characters I thought was genuine. She genuinely cared for Esme but tended to her husband as well. She was my favourite character.
Pops has mild dementia. I think it would have been better to hint towards this during the first few chapters with him in it, rather than him all of a sudden being quite forgetful.
I like the storyline, though, and the characters (to some extent), so this was a good book. Not Jaqueline Wilson's best, though.
I do like Esme (Es-ME), but I think some of the stuff she does is a little unrealistic.
Mrs Hawes was one of the characters I thought was genuine. She genuinely cared for Esme but tended to her husband as well. She was my favourite character.
Pops has mild dementia. I think it would have been better to hint towards this during the first few chapters with him in it, rather than him all of a sudden being quite forgetful.
I like the storyline, though, and the characters (to some extent), so this was a good book. Not Jaqueline Wilson's best, though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2026
A look at a girl's experience in foster care.
A great example of Wilson at her best, this. Relatable heroine, realistic situation, range of memorable characters around her and a few hidden stories that bring out the layers in people we don't see at first glance.
Readers will feel sympathy for Esme, who isn't perfect by any means, but does make us consider those put in these situations outside of their control.
Esme comes home from school one day (running to escape teachers who are for some reason chasing her) to find her Mum is not there. She's missing. Put under the supervision of a social worker, Esme learns that her mum has been arrested for shoplifting and she won't be around for a while to look after her daughter. Railing against the injustice of this, Esme is NOT going to go quietly into foster care, especially as the older couple called on to look after her clearly don't want her there.
Pops has a thing for garden gnomes for goodness sake, and his wife is strict strict strict. She doesn't have the right uniform at her new school and immediately catches the attention of the class bully. Great. In trouble already.
Readers will spot quickly that there are sympathetic people all around Esme trying to help. Sometimes with problems hinted at of their own. But Esme just isn't in a place yet to see this.
It's upsetting, seeing a girl pine for her much-loved parent. But the nudges we get at Pops' problems, the humanity shown by the new Head, the bully's own problems, it's a full story of a community and the multiple issues experienced all the time by those around us, and how even when we aren't doing so well ourselves, we can still notice and be there for other people.
This was warm and funny, Esme's voice is the usual Wilson young person who's smart, street-wise, wanting to be loved, wanting to find her place, and a good person at heart.
I did like Pops, he was well-drawn, I did like the friendly Head (shame she gets a bit of a damp lettuce for a class teacher though!).
Reassuring and readable stuff from the author. Would recommend to readers 9 - 12.
With thanks to the publisher for providing a sample reading copy.
A great example of Wilson at her best, this. Relatable heroine, realistic situation, range of memorable characters around her and a few hidden stories that bring out the layers in people we don't see at first glance.
Readers will feel sympathy for Esme, who isn't perfect by any means, but does make us consider those put in these situations outside of their control.
Esme comes home from school one day (running to escape teachers who are for some reason chasing her) to find her Mum is not there. She's missing. Put under the supervision of a social worker, Esme learns that her mum has been arrested for shoplifting and she won't be around for a while to look after her daughter. Railing against the injustice of this, Esme is NOT going to go quietly into foster care, especially as the older couple called on to look after her clearly don't want her there.
Pops has a thing for garden gnomes for goodness sake, and his wife is strict strict strict. She doesn't have the right uniform at her new school and immediately catches the attention of the class bully. Great. In trouble already.
Readers will spot quickly that there are sympathetic people all around Esme trying to help. Sometimes with problems hinted at of their own. But Esme just isn't in a place yet to see this.
It's upsetting, seeing a girl pine for her much-loved parent. But the nudges we get at Pops' problems, the humanity shown by the new Head, the bully's own problems, it's a full story of a community and the multiple issues experienced all the time by those around us, and how even when we aren't doing so well ourselves, we can still notice and be there for other people.
This was warm and funny, Esme's voice is the usual Wilson young person who's smart, street-wise, wanting to be loved, wanting to find her place, and a good person at heart.
I did like Pops, he was well-drawn, I did like the friendly Head (shame she gets a bit of a damp lettuce for a class teacher though!).
Reassuring and readable stuff from the author. Would recommend to readers 9 - 12.
With thanks to the publisher for providing a sample reading copy.
July 24, 2026
Jacqueline Wilson is not only an author of my childhood but her books continue to grace my adulthood. I grew up on the Bed and Breakfast Star, The Lottie Project, Hetty Feather and Tracy Beaker of course. I was always enraptured by her books and this is still the case now.
Esme Pepper has absolutely joined my Jacqueline Wilson books of fame and it was fantastic.
To write of such hard-hitting matters so delicately is a skill that Jacqueline does with ease. She introduces heavy topics and effortlessly weaves them into her stories and boy did I fall in love with little fiery Esme.
She finds herself in the throes of foster parents after her mum is detained and certainly isn’t happy about it. The Hawes’ are elderly and retired however Esme, as a whirlwind of chaos, ends up in their lives. What unfolds is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, happy sad happy and so worth the read.
Despite the central topics themselves, I’m always left with a warm happy glow and the feeling of feeling all the feels through the overcoming of challenges that the character faces. It was a lovely ending, and I’m left bubbling with nostalgia and the overwhelming need to read all her books all over again!
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
Esme Pepper has absolutely joined my Jacqueline Wilson books of fame and it was fantastic.
To write of such hard-hitting matters so delicately is a skill that Jacqueline does with ease. She introduces heavy topics and effortlessly weaves them into her stories and boy did I fall in love with little fiery Esme.
She finds herself in the throes of foster parents after her mum is detained and certainly isn’t happy about it. The Hawes’ are elderly and retired however Esme, as a whirlwind of chaos, ends up in their lives. What unfolds is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, happy sad happy and so worth the read.
Despite the central topics themselves, I’m always left with a warm happy glow and the feeling of feeling all the feels through the overcoming of challenges that the character faces. It was a lovely ending, and I’m left bubbling with nostalgia and the overwhelming need to read all her books all over again!
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Jacqueline Wilson has done it again. Esme Pepper is funny, deeply moving and full of warmth, reminding me exactly why her books have remained so special for so many readers over the years.
Esme is a wonderfully believable protagonist. She is witty, vulnerable and incredibly easy to root for, and I found myself completely invested in her journey from the very first page. Wilson captures the complicated emotions of growing up with such honesty, balancing laugh-out-loud moments with scenes that genuinely tugged at my heart.
What impressed me most was how hopeful the story felt. It doesn't shy away from difficult topics, but it approaches them with compassion, humour and optimism. Every character felt authentic, and the relationships, both messy and loving, were beautifully written.
Even as an adult reader, I found this impossible to put down. Jacqueline Wilson has a remarkable ability to tell stories that speak to readers of all ages, and Esme Pepper is another reminder of why she remains one of my favourite authors.
A touching, uplifting and unforgettable read that left me smiling by the final page. Highly recommended.
Esme is a wonderfully believable protagonist. She is witty, vulnerable and incredibly easy to root for, and I found myself completely invested in her journey from the very first page. Wilson captures the complicated emotions of growing up with such honesty, balancing laugh-out-loud moments with scenes that genuinely tugged at my heart.
What impressed me most was how hopeful the story felt. It doesn't shy away from difficult topics, but it approaches them with compassion, humour and optimism. Every character felt authentic, and the relationships, both messy and loving, were beautifully written.
Even as an adult reader, I found this impossible to put down. Jacqueline Wilson has a remarkable ability to tell stories that speak to readers of all ages, and Esme Pepper is another reminder of why she remains one of my favourite authors.
A touching, uplifting and unforgettable read that left me smiling by the final page. Highly recommended.
August 25, 2026
I confess, I’m definitely not the target age for this book. I’m 25, and this book is for 9-12 year olds, but it’s written by Jacqueline Wilson, who is not only my favourite childhood author, but also one of my favourite authors of all time. This is my first time reading a very new Jacqueline Wilson novel, and for the most part I enjoyed it. I especially enjoyed the growing friendship between Esme and her foster parents. It was also a page-turner that I couldn’t put down. However, there were a few things that stopped me enjoying it as much as I wanted to. I’d have liked some more detailed background on Esme and her mother, as well as maybe a few pages of showing their relationship before the mother is arrested, because I didn’t quite get invested in it, and - as it was the emotional backbone of the story - it fell quite flat. There were a few other characters and situations that were also underdeveloped, as well as an abrupt ending. One of the things I love most about Wilson is that all of her books are enjoyable for both children and adults as - although she talks about serious issues - she does so in a way that is simple enough for children to understand, but not fully grasp like adults do, but unfortunately I didn’t get that with this book like I have with the other books I’ve read/re-read as an adult. Not to mention, it was surprisingly cheerful and nothing really bad ever happened, which I personally found very strange as I’m used to Jacqueline Wilson being gritty and realistic haha. Overall, it was a sweet story, but not one of my favourites by her.
August 23, 2026
Yet another fantastic children’s novel from Jaqueline Wilson. I read this with my daughter who was very excited to read another book from one of her favourite authors. Beautifully written this has all the excitement you would expect, whilst being hilarious and sad in parts. My daughter absolutely loved this book and has now started reading it for a second time. Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars
August 13, 2026
I might be 36 - but I still faithfully read every new book of Jacqueline's when they're released! This is my favourite new release since Love Frankie & Baby Love.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews