 The original cover | |
| Author | Cathy Cassidy |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Puffin |
Publication date | 2004 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | Print (hardback, Ebook and paperback) |
| Pages | 272 |
| ISBN | 978-0141938837 |
Dizzy is a 2004 children's novel written by British novelist Cathy Cassidy. It is Cassidy's first published novel. She wrote the book in three months and sent it to three agents. It was published by Puffin Books and was well-received by critics.
Dizzy's mother, Storm, left when Dizzy was eight years old; Storm has been absent from Dizzy's life sense, although she has continued sending her daughter cards and gifts. Dizzy dreams of the day when her mother will come home to live with her and her father. Storm ends up coming home on Dizzy's 12th birthday, and Dizzy goes to live with her in a van during the summer. This changes Dizzy's life in an unexpected way. Dizzy begins to realise that her mother is not the dream figure she had pictured, but Dizzy also makes new friends, including 14-year-old boy Finn. [1] [2]
Dizzy was originally released in 2004 as Dizzy: a novel. [3] It is Cathy Cassidy's first published novel. [4] She had initially begun a historical novel, but never finished it. [4] She wrote Dizzy in three months, and then put it in a drawer upon completion; she later said that she was too nervous to send it to anyone, for "My dreams of being published would have been shattered if it was rejected". [4] A friend eventually persuaded Cassidy to send the manuscript to three different agents, however, and one replied within two days. [4] Dizzy was then published by Puffin Books, which Cassidy called a "dream come true". [4]
The novel was not based on a true story. Cassidy explained in 2007 that "I had lots of traveller friends and have always wanted to set a story in that world. The name came from a girl I met at a traveller wedding, Dizzy was a nickname for Denise, but it stuck in my mind and I knew I'd use it in a story one day!" [5] After Dizzy was published, Cassidy became one of the UK's most popular children's books authors and became referred to as the "Queen of Teen". [6] [7] An e-book version of the novel was released in 2008. [8] A new edition of the novel was released on 2 June 2011. [9]
A writer from The Guardian wrote that the book was "unforgettable", "tender", and "[t]ouching". [8] Julia Eccleshare from LoveReading4Kids praised Cassidy's "insight into teenage thinking", calling it "pin-point sharp", and opined that Cassidy's "light tone" made her stories "sing". [8] Eccleshare added that Dizzy was smart, and that "Dizzy's growing awareness of herself and her surroundings is warmly explored, and Cathy Cassidy gives a balanced picture of a different way of life, while never losing sight of the fact that whoever and wherever children are, they need consistent love and attention." [2] Eccleshare also placed the novel on her list of "Top tales for sunny days". [2]
Dinah Hall from The Daily Telegraph put Dizzy on her list of the best new children's books and opined that Dizzy's "prodigal mother" tricked her daughter into coming with her for the summer. [10] Hall believed that it was predictable that Cassidy was compared to established children's author Jacqueline Wilson, adding that both authors have the same "fluid readability" for readers over the age of nine, and that both featured "characters on the fringes of society". [10] However, Hall added, "where Wilson's [characters] have begun to feel stereotypical, Cassidy's have real heart, and subtly encourage the readers to abandon preconceptions". [10]
The Guardian placed Dizzy, along with Cassidy's later novel Sundae Girl , on its list of "Books that could help teachers raise sensitive issues". [11] It opined that the central characters in both novels are "emotionally abused by their inadequate mothers" and noted that Dizzy becomes unhappy due to her mother's unreliability and the "instability" of her life with her. [11] The paper also noted how Cassidy's novels are "light-hearted and hopeful" whilst dealing with issues relating to families, relationships and friendships, as well as conveying a "strong sense" of how children between the ages of 10 and 13 speak and behave. [11] A reviewer from Publishers Weekly wrote, "Overall, readers will appreciate this unique world that Dizzy has discovered, even as they hope she finds her way back". [3] It was easy to empathise with Dizzy's "complicated emotions" and readers were given a "clear picture of Dizzy's life on the road", the review continued, but some of the novel's narration seemed too mature for Dizzy's age. [3]
