Love Lessons (novel)

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First edition LoveLessons.jpg
First edition

Love Lessons is a British novel intended for older readers by Jacqueline Wilson, first published by Doubleday in 2005. It is illustrated by Nick Sharratt, although the only illustrations in this book are the chapter-headings.

Contents

Some of the characters in Love Lessons are similar to those in one of the author's previous books, Waiting for the Sky to Fall (1983).

Plot summary

The book revolves around a 14-year-old narrator, Prudence 'Prue' King. Prue and her sister Grace are homeschooled but are forced to go to a comprehensive school after their father, a bookshop owner, suffers a stroke. Being introverted and artistic yet bad at mathematics, Prue does not fit in as well as Grace but soon develops a close relationship with her art teacher, Mr Raxberry 'Rax'. She also does not have many friends after some girls at school harass her for the lingerie she bought using money she was given to pay for maths tuition. Prue realises that she has fallen in love with Rax and Rax (also known as Keith Raxberry) somewhat reciprocates, despite being married with children, whom Prue occasionally babysits. Eventually, Prue moves to a private grammar school and Rax remains at the comprehensive. However, the end of the book shows that Prue is still in love with him, despite having been parted due to suspicions of their relationship arising at school.

Main characters

Controversy

Due to an underage student kissing her teacher, who then somewhat reciprocates her romantic feelings, the book has become more controversial in recent years. [1]

In 2023, Wilson stated that she would not write the book today, as well as acknowledging that she had doubts at the time about whether to write this particular plot. [2]

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References

  1. Gibbons, Lottie (9 February 2019). "Mums are BANNING Jacqueline Wilson books saying they're 'unsuitable' for children". Liverpool Echo. Liverpool. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  2. Hattenstone, Simon (7 August 2023). "'I wanted to be No 1. But a certain JK Rowling came along': Jacqueline Wilson on rivalry, censorship – and love". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 14 August 2023.