What do you think?
Rate this book
Kiss
Sylvie and Carl have been friends since they were tiny children. They’ve always played together, eaten with each other’s families, called each other boyfriend and girlfriend and deep down, Sylvie has always believed that they’d end up married to each other. They even have a magical fantasy world that belongs to them alone — and the glass hut where it’s all created, at the bottom of Carl’s garden.
But as they become teenagers, things are starting to change. They each have different friends. Sylvie would still rather spend all her time with Carl. But Carl has a new friend, Paul, who is taking all his attention. And he seems much less happy to be called Sylvie’s boyfriend. And in a game of spin the bottle, he avoids having to kiss her. Sylvie can tell his feelings have changed and that her plans for the future may be affected. But can she guess at the true reasons behind it all? A moving, compelling and delicately handled treatment of sexuality from the Children’s Laureate.
But as they become teenagers, things are starting to change. They each have different friends. Sylvie would still rather spend all her time with Carl. But Carl has a new friend, Paul, who is taking all his attention. And he seems much less happy to be called Sylvie’s boyfriend. And in a game of spin the bottle, he avoids having to kiss her. Sylvie can tell his feelings have changed and that her plans for the future may be affected. But can she guess at the true reasons behind it all? A moving, compelling and delicately handled treatment of sexuality from the Children’s Laureate.
247 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
138 people are currently reading
2640 people want to read
About the author
Jacqueline Wilson
398 books5,709 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 312 reviews
July 6, 2007
I was a fair bit younger when I went through my Jacqueline Wilson phase, and most of her more recent books I haven't read. But I picked up the reader for this one, and it's like - ah. She's reliable. So, Sylvie and Carl have always been best friends, with their own private fantasy world and Sylvie's own assumption they're going to grow up and get married. Only of course it doesn't work like that. Carl changes schools, and they both have to learn who they are without each other. It's not a fun road.
I liked this one a lot - particularly how Miranda inflicts her friendship on Sylvie, and then the dynamics between the three main characters. It's the sort of thing I want to write. The characters are distinctly themselves, and seeing the way they affect each other is awesome. It's also unlike anything she's written before, and I think that's really admirable.
(from my livejournal)
I liked this one a lot - particularly how Miranda inflicts her friendship on Sylvie, and then the dynamics between the three main characters. It's the sort of thing I want to write. The characters are distinctly themselves, and seeing the way they affect each other is awesome. It's also unlike anything she's written before, and I think that's really admirable.
(from my livejournal)
April 22, 2012
I never ever thought I'd feel like this. I thought I'd just coast along somehow. I've always been careful...I felt so safe, you and me and our own private world. I didn't have a clue about what it's like to fall in love. It's frightening because it's so intense, it kind of takes you over. It's just like every stupid cliché, every silly song. You can't eat, you can't concentrate, you can't sleep. You just think about the other person all the time, even though you know it's crazy...I knew I didn't stand a chance...and yet I still sort of hoped that somehow it would happen.
Sylvie and Carl...Carl and Sylvie. They've been joined at the hip their entire childhood. Their families have blended over the years, but whatever the circumstances their friendship has remained a constant. In fact Sylvie has secretly always believed that they were destined to be together and would marry. They poses their own private world which comes to life in the Glass Hut at the bottom of Carl's garden and have always kept it fiercely private.
As they grow up things start to change...They go to different schools, making new friends. Yet, Sylvie still secretly yearns for those moments when she and Carl can play GlassWorld in private. Carl seems to have moved on with his show-off friend Paul who takes up all his time and attention, much to Sylvie's annoyance. Suddenly it seems to Sylvie that things may not turn out the way she has always dreamed.
Kiss is a "moving, compelling and delicately handled treatment of first love and first heartbreak" written by, arguably, one of Britain's best children's writers.
Reading it now I can see the twist coming, but putting myself in the frame of mind of the average 13-16 year old I probably wouldn't have foreseen it. Wilson handles every aspect of this novel so delicately and seems to step away from her usual family-focused subjects to really examine the anxiety and emotional rollercoaster that teenage love and heartbreak brings to Sylvie. However, she also manages to weave in the story of Sylvie's single mother finding new love for herself after years alone.
I loved the imaginary world that Wilson created for Sylvie and Carl in GlassWorld and honestly I would just love to read the GlassWorld Chronicles that Sylvie and Carl write throughout the novel. The way that the Chronicles were woven through the story really helped the audience to understand Sylvie's personality in more depth and therefore sympathise with her as her perfect world shatters around her.
Another stunning Wilson masterpiece which has been added to my favourites and has set a new bar for Wilson's older teenage reads. Powerful, emotional and touching exploration of teenage heartbreak and sexuality.
This review and many more can be found at Maree's Musings.
Sylvie and Carl...Carl and Sylvie. They've been joined at the hip their entire childhood. Their families have blended over the years, but whatever the circumstances their friendship has remained a constant. In fact Sylvie has secretly always believed that they were destined to be together and would marry. They poses their own private world which comes to life in the Glass Hut at the bottom of Carl's garden and have always kept it fiercely private.
As they grow up things start to change...They go to different schools, making new friends. Yet, Sylvie still secretly yearns for those moments when she and Carl can play GlassWorld in private. Carl seems to have moved on with his show-off friend Paul who takes up all his time and attention, much to Sylvie's annoyance. Suddenly it seems to Sylvie that things may not turn out the way she has always dreamed.
Kiss is a "moving, compelling and delicately handled treatment of first love and first heartbreak" written by, arguably, one of Britain's best children's writers.
Reading it now I can see the twist coming, but putting myself in the frame of mind of the average 13-16 year old I probably wouldn't have foreseen it. Wilson handles every aspect of this novel so delicately and seems to step away from her usual family-focused subjects to really examine the anxiety and emotional rollercoaster that teenage love and heartbreak brings to Sylvie. However, she also manages to weave in the story of Sylvie's single mother finding new love for herself after years alone.
I loved the imaginary world that Wilson created for Sylvie and Carl in GlassWorld and honestly I would just love to read the GlassWorld Chronicles that Sylvie and Carl write throughout the novel. The way that the Chronicles were woven through the story really helped the audience to understand Sylvie's personality in more depth and therefore sympathise with her as her perfect world shatters around her.
Another stunning Wilson masterpiece which has been added to my favourites and has set a new bar for Wilson's older teenage reads. Powerful, emotional and touching exploration of teenage heartbreak and sexuality.
This review and many more can be found at Maree's Musings.
January 5, 2011
I love reading Jacqueline Wilson for the fact that she often makes me empathize with her teenaged protagonists in a way I find very real and true. In this case my empathy was with Carl, the best friend to Sylvie, the protagonist. Sylvie is pretty likeable but she is made to be almost too naïve when the reader is aware of what is troubling Carl long before she realises it.
As for other characters, Miranda is somewhat problematic. I don't like preachy books at all but her excessive drinking and risky sexual behaviour (maybe exaggerated by the character but still...) is almost normalised (she is supposed to be 13-14 years old) and I really want a sequel just to bring some resolution to her behaviour.
Also in light of how systematic homophobia is in our society, I feel like we, the readers, are kind of cheated to think that having Miranda and Sylvie showing up at Carl's school, was some kind of magical solution to what he might have to face. Things just aren't that easy.
Wilson did hit on emotionally true notes and I think she did an OK job with the grown-up characters. All in all, this was a pretty enjoyable read thought a tad bit predictable and slightly problematic when it came to the depiction of the issue the teenaged characters faced.
As for other characters, Miranda is somewhat problematic. I don't like preachy books at all but her excessive drinking and risky sexual behaviour (maybe exaggerated by the character but still...) is almost normalised (she is supposed to be 13-14 years old) and I really want a sequel just to bring some resolution to her behaviour.
Also in light of how systematic homophobia is in our society, I feel like we, the readers, are kind of cheated to think that having Miranda and Sylvie showing up at Carl's school, was some kind of magical solution to what he might have to face. Things just aren't that easy.
Wilson did hit on emotionally true notes and I think she did an OK job with the grown-up characters. All in all, this was a pretty enjoyable read thought a tad bit predictable and slightly problematic when it came to the depiction of the issue the teenaged characters faced.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
August 8, 2011Kiss is a novel written by Jacqueline Wilson, it is based on a boy and a girl, named Carl and Sylvie, who have been best friends ever since they were tiny, they've even called each other boyfriend and girlfriend and Sylvie imagines them getting married one day. They've always played games together, and made stories in Carl's glass hut about their dream world – Glassworld. But as they grow older, when they both go to high school, Carl attends a different school and Sylvie starts to see that Carl doesn't hang round with her as much anymore and this upsets her a lot. She is forced into a 'friendship' with the popular girl at her school, Miranda, because Miranda hears about Sylvie's boyfriend and decides to try and get him for herself. Also, at this time, Sylvie hears that Carl has a new friend too, Paul, who Carl seems to be getting more and more like every time Sylvie sees him. With Miranda trying to steal Carl, and Carl spending all of his time with Paul, Sylvie fears she will never get to kiss Carl. One day, Sylvie discovers all the glass in the glass hut has been destroyed, after a surprising revelation about Carl. This is a brilliant novel about teenage heartbreak, it makes you feel like you are connected to the characters. A must-read!
Read
September 18, 2016Reading this now, nearly a decade after it was published, and after having read so many more books with LGBT+ protagonists, has been hilarious. It's not the best representation of a boy discovering his sexuality, as the girls in his life make everything about them and his parents seem to want to think it's just a 'phase'. The phrase 'he's not old enough to decide yet' is actually used, and I was like ??? I'm pretty sure at 14, you can be sure of the legitimacy of your feelings.
I was really looking forward to reading this one a second time round, now that I'm so much more educated on the LGBT+ front. I wasn't expecting really forward thinking things, like Robin Talley's writing and it might have been a better book if it was actually told from Carl's perspective, rather than distorted by Sylvie's childish desire to marry him.
I was really looking forward to reading this one a second time round, now that I'm so much more educated on the LGBT+ front. I wasn't expecting really forward thinking things, like Robin Talley's writing and it might have been a better book if it was actually told from Carl's perspective, rather than distorted by Sylvie's childish desire to marry him.
September 12, 2022
Next up on rereading my teenage faves was Kiss. I had to do something by Jacqueline Wilson and I remembered this one being a bit fucking heavy for fifteen year old moi.
Fair play on my judgement bc I wasn’t wrong - it’s heartbreaking and literally covers homophobia and self-harm. It was really good though, even now. Yes, the insults used don’t have as much power as calling someone a fucking twat, but look past the “stinky bum worm eater” lines and it’s aged very well.
This is about Sylvie and Carl who have been best friends their whole life and then in a relationship but one of those msn, will you go out with me but nothing will actually change relationships. You know what I mean, right?
Sylvie has a complex about being tiny, with her school knowing her as ‘titch’. Carl has bigger fish to fry, questioning his sexuality and feelings for his new best mate Paul, of course while Sylvie is still planning their marriage and while Paul and the rest of his peers are in the stupid teenage stage of using “that’s gay” as an insult.
A very nice trip down nostalgia lane.
Fair play on my judgement bc I wasn’t wrong - it’s heartbreaking and literally covers homophobia and self-harm. It was really good though, even now. Yes, the insults used don’t have as much power as calling someone a fucking twat, but look past the “stinky bum worm eater” lines and it’s aged very well.
This is about Sylvie and Carl who have been best friends their whole life and then in a relationship but one of those msn, will you go out with me but nothing will actually change relationships. You know what I mean, right?
Sylvie has a complex about being tiny, with her school knowing her as ‘titch’. Carl has bigger fish to fry, questioning his sexuality and feelings for his new best mate Paul, of course while Sylvie is still planning their marriage and while Paul and the rest of his peers are in the stupid teenage stage of using “that’s gay” as an insult.
A very nice trip down nostalgia lane.
August 2, 2022
The story of Sylvie and Carl best friends who have always called each other boyfriend and girlfriend. Then DISASTER Carl switches schools but its okay because they live next to each other. Then he becomes all quiet, always hanging out with stupid Paul and it gets so yawn. I don't think Sylvie ever got the hint that Carl was just not that into her and she just kept pushing and pushing I would have screamed at her to leave me alone. I like how JW included LGBTQ+ and how he copes with it. I like Miranda, she's funny. Sylvie's mum is so annoying but I like Mrs. Miles. I think Sylvie tries to much to make everyone feel sorry for her an she needs to grow up a bit. Obviously carl doesn't want to write her stupid Glassworld things and she should have left him alone for gods sake. I feel like there are some realistic bits like periods and homosexuality but other times I feel like JW didn't really know what she was talking about and was just waffling on. Still good.
June 6, 2020
I just read this without realizing I've already read this before until I got to a part about two thirds in that I recognized ... and yeah, as you may have figured out, I didn't enjoyed it that much seeing as I didn't even remember it haha.
October 16, 2025
i vaguely remember what happened
July 13, 2010
Carl and Sylvie have lived next door to each other and been friends forever, and Sylvie had always believed that one day they would get married, but lately something seems different about Carl. Carl has earned a scholarship to Kingsmere Grammar, an exclusive all boys’ high school, and Sylvie misses having Carl around at school. After school, he seems to want to spend less and less time with Sylvie and doesn’t seem interested in playing Glassworld an elaborate fantasy the world that the two of them had created together. Miranda, a popular girl at Sylvie’s school, suddenly befriends her and begins taking an interest in Carl. Sylvie and Carl go to a party at Miranda’s and Sylvie finds out that Carl has developed a close friendship with Paul, a boy from his school that he has never mentioned to Sylvie before. Sylvie feels jealous of both Paul and Miranda and doesn’t understand why her lifelong friend seems to be slipping away from her. Eventually, Sylvie must come to terms with the fact that Carl’s feelings for her will never be the same as the feelings she has for him.
The plot of Kiss is pretty predictable. Most readers will figure out what is causing the change in Carl long before Sylvie does, which makes the climax and resolution fall flat. The characters are somewhat realistic, but they are not always likable. Sylvie, for example, is so easily manipulated and seems so clueless about what is going on around her that she is more pitiable than likable. The themes of tolerance and acceptance are commendable, but they are developed in a heavy-handed and unrealistic way.
The plot of Kiss is pretty predictable. Most readers will figure out what is causing the change in Carl long before Sylvie does, which makes the climax and resolution fall flat. The characters are somewhat realistic, but they are not always likable. Sylvie, for example, is so easily manipulated and seems so clueless about what is going on around her that she is more pitiable than likable. The themes of tolerance and acceptance are commendable, but they are developed in a heavy-handed and unrealistic way.
September 7, 2015
Source: I own this book.
Cost: Unknown
Title: Kiss
Author: Jacqueline Wilson
Genre: Middle grade, contemporary
Overall Rating: 3 stars
This is your typical, reliable Jacqueline Wilson book with a bit of an LGBT+ twist. Wilson was the person who presented darker and tougher topics to me as a child, and I think that's kind of why I'm slightly more understanding to certain things than some others, if that makes sense. She tackles sexuality, divorce, poverty, bullying, and adoption in her middle grade to young adult books. I think it's important for younger, more impressionable people to be presented to these issues and topics in our society.
Cost: Unknown
Title: Kiss
Author: Jacqueline Wilson
Genre: Middle grade, contemporary
Overall Rating: 3 stars
This is your typical, reliable Jacqueline Wilson book with a bit of an LGBT+ twist. Wilson was the person who presented darker and tougher topics to me as a child, and I think that's kind of why I'm slightly more understanding to certain things than some others, if that makes sense. She tackles sexuality, divorce, poverty, bullying, and adoption in her middle grade to young adult books. I think it's important for younger, more impressionable people to be presented to these issues and topics in our society.
October 13, 2016
This book has many nostalgic feelings about it because although I didn't read this particular book as a child; being 14 when this book came out, I had decided I was far too grown up to read 'children's books', I loved Jacqueline Wilson books throughout my childhood. Any one of her books fills me with memories of reading and discovering my love for sitting down with a good book. I knew before I read this book that it would be great! It was!
Reading this book reminded me how fantastically Jacqueline Wilson manages to incorporate more adult/deep topics in a friendly and understandable way. The relationship between Sylvie and Carl in this book reminds me of a much less stressful time in life where the most complicated thing we had to do was decide which teddy bear to sleep with that night. I definitely understood where this storyline was coming from. I felt for Sylvie but she seemed even younger to me than her character is actually supposed to be. Honestly, I almost read this as if Carl is an older brother type figure in Sylvie's life rather than the same age. Carl seemed more mature but that could have something to do with the emotions and struggles he was facing. Also, puberty is different in everyone but I definitely got the sense that Carl was going through it but Sylvie was still in her prepubescent state!
SPOILER! The revelation that Carl was gay isn't something I found surprising. I didn't like the fact that it was almost used as a plot twist, I felt like it shouldn't have been that way. Also, I think I would have preferred this book narrated by Carl rather than from Sylvie's point of view because it would have been far more powerful, reading about Carl's unravelling of himself and discovering who he is. It was almost explored but Sylvie's childish continuation of her 'fairytale' future marriage to him kept distracting me from the main issue. I wanted to shake her actually.
If I had read this book as an 11 year old, I'm not sure that I would have understood Carl's struggles fully but I would have got the sense. Now that I'm educated on LGBT relationships it made much more sense and I liked the involvement of a diverse character. My rating was 3/5 purely because of the plot twist element to this story and the fact that Sylvie irritated me slightly. But I wasn't disappointed at all and will continue to read Jacqueline Wilson books!
Reading this book reminded me how fantastically Jacqueline Wilson manages to incorporate more adult/deep topics in a friendly and understandable way. The relationship between Sylvie and Carl in this book reminds me of a much less stressful time in life where the most complicated thing we had to do was decide which teddy bear to sleep with that night. I definitely understood where this storyline was coming from. I felt for Sylvie but she seemed even younger to me than her character is actually supposed to be. Honestly, I almost read this as if Carl is an older brother type figure in Sylvie's life rather than the same age. Carl seemed more mature but that could have something to do with the emotions and struggles he was facing. Also, puberty is different in everyone but I definitely got the sense that Carl was going through it but Sylvie was still in her prepubescent state!
SPOILER! The revelation that Carl was gay isn't something I found surprising. I didn't like the fact that it was almost used as a plot twist, I felt like it shouldn't have been that way. Also, I think I would have preferred this book narrated by Carl rather than from Sylvie's point of view because it would have been far more powerful, reading about Carl's unravelling of himself and discovering who he is. It was almost explored but Sylvie's childish continuation of her 'fairytale' future marriage to him kept distracting me from the main issue. I wanted to shake her actually.
If I had read this book as an 11 year old, I'm not sure that I would have understood Carl's struggles fully but I would have got the sense. Now that I'm educated on LGBT relationships it made much more sense and I liked the involvement of a diverse character. My rating was 3/5 purely because of the plot twist element to this story and the fact that Sylvie irritated me slightly. But I wasn't disappointed at all and will continue to read Jacqueline Wilson books!
July 23, 2013
This novel tells the story of Carl and Sylvie who have been best friends throughout primary school. However, Sylvie starts noticing that Carl is becoming more and more distant and reluctant to spend time with Sylvie. This is the main focus of the story, the changing relationship between Sylvie and Carl. I was looking forward to reading this book as I have not read a Jacqueline Wilson book in a very long time (we are talking 5+ years) and I found that I enjoyed it almost as much as I had done when I was younger. This story was entertaining and fun to read and I felt dealt very well the issue of changing relationships and feelings between teenage boys and girls. Whilst I understand why this book is recommended for the older YA readers, as they are more likely to relate to the emotions felt by the characters as well as the situation they are in, I found at times the characters were quite immature. Whilst the Glassworld is a nice idea and shows how well the two characters get along, I feel that some of the YA readers will find it somewhat annoying.
This review is part of a task for my PGCE Primary programme as a way in which to examine my subject knowledge of in children's literature. As a big fan of Jacqueline Wilson books as well as the way in which she accurately, and delicately, handles teenage emotions and situations in a realistic and entertaining way, I would recommend this book and a number of others she has written for YA readers. I think due to some of the serious nature and content of her novels, I would recommend that her books are ideally suited for readers aged 10+. I am unsure as to whether I would have this book in my future classroom and read it to my future class as I think that these books are aimed at girls, therefore boys may find the content of her novels somewhat awkward and not very enjoyable, But other than that, a very enjoyable book.
This review is part of a task for my PGCE Primary programme as a way in which to examine my subject knowledge of in children's literature. As a big fan of Jacqueline Wilson books as well as the way in which she accurately, and delicately, handles teenage emotions and situations in a realistic and entertaining way, I would recommend this book and a number of others she has written for YA readers. I think due to some of the serious nature and content of her novels, I would recommend that her books are ideally suited for readers aged 10+. I am unsure as to whether I would have this book in my future classroom and read it to my future class as I think that these books are aimed at girls, therefore boys may find the content of her novels somewhat awkward and not very enjoyable, But other than that, a very enjoyable book.
October 2, 2013
This book, set in England during the mid-2000s, made the Rainbow Book List in 2011. The Rainbow Book List is described by the American Library Association as "an annual bibliography of quality books with significant and authentic GLBTQ content." This book fits the criteria very well. Carl's struggle with his identity, falling in love with a classmate who doesn't reciprocate and bullying from other students is presented realistically. None of the story is sugarcoated, yet there is no gratuitous sexual content either - although Carl is 14 and just starting puberty, the most physical content we see him craving is a kiss.
Besides LGBT related content, more universal coming-of-age topics, such as Sylvie feeling like a baby because she hasn't yet grown breasts, rumors swirling of her friend Miranda being sexually active ("going all the way") at a young age, and of course Sylvie's unrequited love toward Carl are also explored without sugarcoating or explicit detail. A substory about Carl collecting glass figurines and he and Sylvie making up stories about the "glass kingdom" added whimsy and an extra level to the coming-of-age theme as the duo begin to wonder if they're too old to be playing the make-believe game. A motif I found adorable was the way Sylvie imagined every time she was close to Carl how if she just did this or that they would be kissing. When I first read the book at the age of sixteen, I found this frustrating - why didn't she just go for it? Yet looking back now at the age of twenty I recall being just as nervous around boys at that age as Sylvie.
While the ending begins very sadly (and frustratingly - Carl destroys something very precious to him in a fit of rage - it ends very sweetly, with Sylvie finally getting the kiss she's been wanting, even if it isn't meant the way she dreamt it would.
Besides LGBT related content, more universal coming-of-age topics, such as Sylvie feeling like a baby because she hasn't yet grown breasts, rumors swirling of her friend Miranda being sexually active ("going all the way") at a young age, and of course Sylvie's unrequited love toward Carl are also explored without sugarcoating or explicit detail. A substory about Carl collecting glass figurines and he and Sylvie making up stories about the "glass kingdom" added whimsy and an extra level to the coming-of-age theme as the duo begin to wonder if they're too old to be playing the make-believe game. A motif I found adorable was the way Sylvie imagined every time she was close to Carl how if she just did this or that they would be kissing. When I first read the book at the age of sixteen, I found this frustrating - why didn't she just go for it? Yet looking back now at the age of twenty I recall being just as nervous around boys at that age as Sylvie.
While the ending begins very sadly (and frustratingly - Carl destroys something very precious to him in a fit of rage - it ends very sweetly, with Sylvie finally getting the kiss she's been wanting, even if it isn't meant the way she dreamt it would.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2022
Perhaps a 4.5. I actually read this book year's ago, when I was about nine years old (slightly too young, I think) and it's the first book I ever read with explicit LGBT+ representation.
I don't usually log my re-reads, but because so much time has passed and because I have so many feelings about this book; look obviously, it was written by a middle-aged woman in 2007 so some of the things the characters say aren't acceptable by today's standards (the reiteration that it could 'just be a phase' etc etc), but since Jacqueline Wilson came out only a few years ago ... I think a charitable reading is required, because without wanting to analyse the psyche and inner-world of a woman I do not know, I wonder if she was thinking about her own adolescence through this lens.
As a child the 'twist' was dramatic, but now as an older reader I can see the hints scattered through the text and realise that the reader was meant to come to this conclusion. My heart breaks for these children, it really does.
My one issue, and I have this with a lot fo Jacqueline Wilson novels, is that the teenagers act older than they are - especially Miranda. However, I do remember classmates/friends of mine experimenting with alcohol and sex at a younger age, or at least claiming to (and indeed it's established that Miranda purposefully exaggerates and makes things up) so perhaps this is just because my early teenage experience was nothing like this - I don't want to claim it's entirely unrealistic, but it is a little jarring as an adult in my twenties. But it also makes it all the sadder, to be honest. I would never want to be thirteen/fourteen ever again.
I don't usually log my re-reads, but because so much time has passed and because I have so many feelings about this book; look obviously, it was written by a middle-aged woman in 2007 so some of the things the characters say aren't acceptable by today's standards (the reiteration that it could 'just be a phase' etc etc), but since Jacqueline Wilson came out only a few years ago ... I think a charitable reading is required, because without wanting to analyse the psyche and inner-world of a woman I do not know, I wonder if she was thinking about her own adolescence through this lens.
As a child the 'twist' was dramatic, but now as an older reader I can see the hints scattered through the text and realise that the reader was meant to come to this conclusion. My heart breaks for these children, it really does.
My one issue, and I have this with a lot fo Jacqueline Wilson novels, is that the teenagers act older than they are - especially Miranda. However, I do remember classmates/friends of mine experimenting with alcohol and sex at a younger age, or at least claiming to (and indeed it's established that Miranda purposefully exaggerates and makes things up) so perhaps this is just because my early teenage experience was nothing like this - I don't want to claim it's entirely unrealistic, but it is a little jarring as an adult in my twenties. But it also makes it all the sadder, to be honest. I would never want to be thirteen/fourteen ever again.
July 25, 2023
OOF, I LOVED this one when I was 11 but reading it in 2023 is 😬 times have moved on and some of the language used just would not be acceptable today in a children's book (r*tard, f*g, gay as a derogatory term etc.) . Plus not Carl's parents being somewhat accepting but also being like, you being gay might just be a phase because you're 14 🥲 Also Sylvie is just a massive bitch all of the time??? OH and equally important is the language used around sanitary pads and periods in general. For the audience that this book is intended for, tweens will read that and basically be told that you should only wear tampons and that pads are like nappies and also the whole thing with 'flooding'???? Way to make periods into this terrifying scary thing and cause unnecessary anxiety.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2015
What happens when your BFF is the boy next door - the boy you're in love with - and that boy is in love with another boy at school?
Sylvie and Carl's Glassworld seems to rip-off Bridge to Terebithia and The Secret Language, but that's a minor complaint. Far more important is the way Sylvie grows up with her new friend, Miranda, and learns to accept change (like Mom dating). Carl's "secret" is handled sensitively, although I did wonder whether having his family (and Sylvie and Miranda) accept him as gay so easily was realistic. Paul's reaction felt far more honest.
A definite "to buy" for our GLBTQ-friendly collection.
ARC provided by publisher.
Sylvie and Carl's Glassworld seems to rip-off Bridge to Terebithia and The Secret Language, but that's a minor complaint. Far more important is the way Sylvie grows up with her new friend, Miranda, and learns to accept change (like Mom dating). Carl's "secret" is handled sensitively, although I did wonder whether having his family (and Sylvie and Miranda) accept him as gay so easily was realistic. Paul's reaction felt far more honest.
A definite "to buy" for our GLBTQ-friendly collection.
ARC provided by publisher.
July 30, 2013
A beautiful story of friendship, sexuality and love. The best of Jacqueline Wilson, such a great story, well-paced and has a real plot to it. Even though Carl and Sylvie are quite annoying at the parts to do with Glassworld, they are intriguing and fascinating other times. Miranda spices things up and so does Paul.
I read this when I was about 11 and really enjoyed it, reading it a lot. When I got to the age of 14, I read it again. This time I cried. I was about the same age as them at this point and could feel the pain they went through.
I read this when I was about 11 and really enjoyed it, reading it a lot. When I got to the age of 14, I read it again. This time I cried. I was about the same age as them at this point and could feel the pain they went through.
September 28, 2021
I've been re-reading a bunch of JW books the last few days and I had never actually read this. It's ok. The characters are very samey though, with the wanting to study art and pointy witchy boots.
April 27, 2023
sweet as anything
July 21, 2020
A friend recently borrowed me this book as I haven't read it and I have read most of Jacqueline Wilson's works. I have to say it wasn't one of my favourite pieces of of work by Wilson however I do think it's important for young readers to read topics such as this one.
I was under no illusion about Carl and Sylvie relationship. It was quite clear to me from the beginning but she thought more of him then he did of her romantically. I think a lot of this comes from the fact that they both group together and the parents clearly romanticised their friendship in the early ages as Sylvie clearly believes that they will marry some day despite being her boyfriend and not even having kissed her.
I also thought that the whole glass world was a bit dull but I am reading from an adult mind I enjoy reading young adult for children's books but even then I would have struggled to enjoy parts of the book that talk about Sangria or glass world in the glass Hut. I understand that Sylvie only had Carl as a friend and not many others but she just seemed to be only aware of him and this world they created while others kids had a couple of friends.
I also find it hard to believe that Sylvie would think that Lucy was babyish and dull when she was in year 9 doing the same, I know it was for some form of a book but i felt it was a self indulgence thing too. Something she took comfort from and I felt that maybe Carl outgrew this world and this part of Sylvie. I feel a bit like the characters were just younger than they actually were and that left little for me to work with as a reader, they didnt really develop that much, life just changed and their situations did too.
I was under no illusion about Carl and Sylvie relationship. It was quite clear to me from the beginning but she thought more of him then he did of her romantically. I think a lot of this comes from the fact that they both group together and the parents clearly romanticised their friendship in the early ages as Sylvie clearly believes that they will marry some day despite being her boyfriend and not even having kissed her.
I also thought that the whole glass world was a bit dull but I am reading from an adult mind I enjoy reading young adult for children's books but even then I would have struggled to enjoy parts of the book that talk about Sangria or glass world in the glass Hut. I understand that Sylvie only had Carl as a friend and not many others but she just seemed to be only aware of him and this world they created while others kids had a couple of friends.
I also find it hard to believe that Sylvie would think that Lucy was babyish and dull when she was in year 9 doing the same, I know it was for some form of a book but i felt it was a self indulgence thing too. Something she took comfort from and I felt that maybe Carl outgrew this world and this part of Sylvie. I feel a bit like the characters were just younger than they actually were and that left little for me to work with as a reader, they didnt really develop that much, life just changed and their situations did too.
November 19, 2025
This book had a lot of potential. It wasn’t all bad because I did like the sensitivity around Carl’s storyline regarding his sexuality and I admired the openness and acceptance of the characters, especially considering that the book was published in 2006, where there wasn’t a lot of LGBT fiction aimed towards teenagers. I also loved the brief exploration of alienation that Sylvie feels at the start of the novel as her core friend has gone to a different high school. Unfortunately that’s all the positive things I have to say about it. My main gripes with the story were how plot points and characters were introduced, just to never appear again or develop. I also felt like it was more of a book about Sylvie and her new friend, Miranda than Sylvie and Carl, as a lot of the page count was dedicated towards their growing friendship. I thought Paul would be a larger character, but he only turned up halfway through the story. There were too many characters in this story and none of them were ever fully developed. Plot wise, this book was a mess. The story seemed to stop and start, and only seemed to hit full gear during the last few chapters, but then it ended really abruptly. Overall, it had potential, but it wasn’t my favourite Jacqueline Wilson book, although it was readable and had some bright moments.
January 10, 2025
Welp it took me a while to get through this. Started June 2024, put it down till November, then read 75% of it in one day in January.
I picked this up because it was available at the time and I had just finished reread of Midnight (which is a childhood favourite of mine) and wanted more Jacqueline Wilson to read.
I have only read one other of her YA works ( Lola Rose ), and they read similarly to her children's books. They're well written, but I do think I would've enjoyed them more if I had read them when I was 12-14. For me, they're not the sort of YA books you can relate to as much as an adult.
Main reason I kept reading was to see if I had guessed what would happen (I did).
I picked this up because it was available at the time and I had just finished reread of Midnight (which is a childhood favourite of mine) and wanted more Jacqueline Wilson to read.
I have only read one other of her YA works ( Lola Rose ), and they read similarly to her children's books. They're well written, but I do think I would've enjoyed them more if I had read them when I was 12-14. For me, they're not the sort of YA books you can relate to as much as an adult.
Main reason I kept reading was to see if I had guessed what would happen (I did).
March 28, 2019
It’s a wonderful novel - I’d recommend it for all teenagers, because Wilson writes so intimately and kindly of the want and need to explore sexualities and friendships during those years. She is one of my favorite writers, because she is so knowledgeable of so many issues, and writes on them tenderly. If your child has come out or is trying to, I think this would help a bit.
June 22, 2022
'I didn't have a clue what it's like to fall in love. It's frightening because it's so intense, it kind of takes you over. It's just like every stupid cliché, every silly song. You can't eat, you can't concentrate, you can't sleep. You just think about the other person all the time, even though you know it's crazy. You just can't help it.'
March 2, 2025
Love Jacqueline Wilson, always a childhood favourite. Haven't read or listened to any of her books for ages and this was a change of pace to what I have been reading and listening to. Read by Jacqueline Wilson herself too. Loved it
Want to read
February 3, 2018How do u read it???
August 9, 2019
loved it
November 6, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
I don’t remember reading this one when I was younger but I wish I had! What a relatable but lovely story. One of her best for sure.
I don’t remember reading this one when I was younger but I wish I had! What a relatable but lovely story. One of her best for sure.
November 23, 2025
whoops finished this ages ago
Displaying 1 - 30 of 312 reviews