Hide and Seek

by Jacqueline Wilson

Norman has been bullied and bossed all his life, so when two little girls showed him some friendship, he couldn't let them leave him-even if it meant kidnapping them.

189 pages, Hardcover

First published September 21, 1972

About the author

Jacqueline 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.

Reviews

[Annabelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's probably the darkest story I've ever read from Jacqueline Wilson. It was pretty difficult to get through at times due to the nature of the book.

I've re-read JW's stories many times in the past, but I don't think that I'd read this one again. It was interesting to read JW write in this genre, and if you're a fan of her writing, I do recommend it. Just be warned, though. It could be triggering for some.

3 stars.

[Chels · Rating 3 out of 5]

Allie: hey remember that crazy Jacqueline Wilson novel about child abduction?

Me: what????

[ten minutes later after a google search]

well I see why she let this one drop out of print

[The Styling Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew I was in for a wringer of a book when my fantastic library assistant handed this book to me the day before she left our school. (She’s returning to the UK.) The serious look, the “you must read this” comment as she handed it over… I put it to the top of my TBR (to be read) pile… Hide and Seek by Jacqueline Wilson was a book that was a one sit read. Cannot put down, must deal with tiny print, worth every upsetting minute… made me see sides to people I didn’t want to see. Basically the story is about a 19 year old boy who grew up being bossed around and bullied constantly. When he receives a tiny bit of friendship and attention from two girls he met in a park, he couldn’t leave them behind. Which meant… he kidnapped them. This is completely an ADULT book. This was Jacqueline Wilson’s first novel and I found it so powerful and upsetting to read. Jumping back and forth between the perspective of one mom who had a mature daughter who she trusted to go to the park and convinced another mom to let her four year old daughter to go as well… and the reaction of the parents and children and the mental instability of Norman the kidnapper will pull you along on quite an upsetting, suspenseful ride. If you can get a hold of this book, be careful, might impact decisions on letting your children go somewhere independently.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought a hard copy of this book from an op shop for 10 cents when I was 18 years old. I had loved Jacqueline Wilson as a child, but this one looked to be more serious. And it was! This is a story I have never forgotten...however it may not be for everyone. There are some confronting and dark issues in this story as it is about the kidnapping of two young girls by a young man who has many issues he cannot deal with. This story deals with the theft and the aftermath, and the impact this has on everyone involved, plus the reader witnesses the experience from the kidnappers point of view. I will never forget this one!

[Carrie Talbot-Ashby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacqueline Wilsons earlier works were quite simply, fantastic. I have never known an author that can drag me kicking and screaming into her story! I know her characters, better than any other character in any other book.

This isn't my favourite, but its a close contender....the best book she has written to me has to be 'Lets Pretend' Awesome.