The Story of Tracy Beaker

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The Story of Tracy Beaker
Tracybeaker.jpg
Author Jacqueline Wilson
Illustrator Nick Sharratt
Country United Kingdom
Language English
Genre Children's novel
Publisher Doubleday
Publication date
14 February 1991

1992 (Doubleday re-issue)

2002 & 2009 (Corgi)

14 February 2011 (Corgi re-issue to mark 20 years)

October 2018 (re-issue to coincide with the release of My Mum Tracy Beaker)
Media typePrint (paperback)
Pages152
ISBN 0-385-40075-6
OCLC 59149372
Followed by The Dare Game  

The Story of Tracy Beaker is a British children's book first published in 1991, written by Jacqueline Wilson and illustrated by Nick Sharratt.

Contents

Background

The book is told from the point of view of Tracy Beaker, a troubled ten-year-old girl. Tracy is often unhappy and has problems with her behaviour because she is lonely, frustrated and feels unloved. Tracy lives in a children's residential care home (nicknamed "The Dumping Ground") where she has been placed as a result of neglect and domestic violence. Her mother often left Tracy to stay by herself when Tracy was very young and does not appear to have an interest in her daughter's life. Tracy is unhappy because she has not had any contact with her mother for a long time. She seems to miss her mum a lot and it results in her sitting by the same window hoping her mum would come and pick her up. She has difficulty getting along with the staff and the other children at the care home (especially a girl named Justine Littlewood). Another reason Tracy is frustrated and angry is because she was rejected by a couple called Julie and Ted who attempted to foster her after discovering they were expecting a child of their own, knowing Tracy's background with younger children (especially an incident involving Tracy shutting a baby in a cupboard).

From an adult's point of view, Tracy has "behavioural problems" and she is always telling tales. Tracy's imaginative stories seem to provide a high level of comfort and security for her. For example, a recurring story that Tracy likes to tell is that her mother is a glamorous Hollywood movie star, and that she is coming to collect her someday. Tracy says that her mother is so busy being in films that she does not have time for Tracy. Among other things, Tracy's autobiography details her life so far, her being "deprived and abused" in the children's home (for example, she is deprived of Mars Bars and Smarties) and the types of revenge she would like to take upon her enemies. She often portrays a deep and complicated mind.

In 2002 the book was voted the winner of the Blue Peter Book Award for Best Storybook. [1]

Sequels

Wilson has written three sequels to the book, The Dare Game , Starring Tracy Beaker , and Tracy Beaker's Thumping Heart (a Red Nose Day Special). [2]

Adaptations

The Story of Tracy Beaker was adapted for television by the BBC, airing for five series on CBBC from 8 January 2002 to 9 February 2006, featuring Dani Harmer as Tracy Beaker. [3] The first series was filmed in London, but from series two, the series moved to Wales due to a suggestion from the producer, Jane Dauncey. [4] In 2008, a spin-off from series was announced under the working title of Beaker's Back, but the show was named Tracy Beaker Returns instead. It aired on CBBC for three series from 8 January 2010 to 23 March 2012. The former La Sagesse School in Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne was used as The Dumping Ground set. [5] [6] [7] [8] In March 2012, Amy Leigh Hickman announced a spin-off from Tracy Beaker Returns called The Dumping Ground . It had been announced following Dani's decision to quit her role as Tracy and has aired on CBBC since 4 January 2013; it is currently in its tenth series. The first series was filmed at the same location as Tracy Beaker Returns, but since Series Two, the series has been filmed in Morpeth, Northumberland. [9] [10] The series have also had spin-off series.

In late 2006, The Story of Tracy Beaker was adapted into a musical, featuring Sarah Churm as Tracy Beaker. [11] [12] [13]

Translations

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacqueline Wilson</span> English novelist

Dame Jacqueline Wilson is an English novelist known for her popular children's literature. Her novels have been notable for featuring realistic topics such as adoption and divorce without alienating her large readership. Since her debut novel in 1969, Wilson has written over 100 books.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tracy Beaker</span> Fictional character from the Tracy Beaker franchise

Tracy Beaker is the lead character in the Tracy Beaker franchise. After first appearing as the main character in Jacqueline Wilson's 1991 book The Story of Tracy Beaker, she appeared in the children's television drama of the same name, portrayed by Danielle Jane Harmer, and its sequel series Tracy Beaker Returns, as well as numerous spin-offs, Jacqueline Wilson books, a play and a video game. Harmer reprised her role as Tracy in the 2021 television series My Mum Tracy Beaker followed by The Beaker Girls.

Danielle Jane Harmer is an English actress, television personality, and former singer. She is best known for her lead role as Tracy Beaker in the CBBC series The Story of Tracy Beaker (2002–2006), Tracy Beaker Returns (2010–2012), for which she was nominated for a BAFTA in 2010, The Tracy Beaker Survival Files (2011–2012), My Mum Tracy Beaker (2021), and The Beaker Girls (2021–2023).

<i>The Story of Tracy Beaker</i> (TV series) British television series

The Story of Tracy Beaker is a British television programme series adapted from the book of the same name by Jacqueline Wilson. It ran on CBBC for five series, from January 2002 to December 2005 and also contained a feature-length episode, Tracy Beaker: The Movie of Me, broadcast in February 2004, as well as a week of interactive episodes for Children in Need. The theme song was written and produced by Brian Harris and Nigel Lowis and performed by Keisha White.

Montanna Shakira Thompson is an English actress. She is known for her role as Justine Littlewood in the CBBC children's series The Story of Tracy Beaker (2002–2006). Thompson has reprised her role as Justine in Tracy Beaker Returns (2012), My Mum Tracy Beaker (2021) and The Beaker Girls (2021–2023).

<i>Tracy Beaker Returns</i> British television series

Tracy Beaker Returns was a British television programme. Based upon the novels by Jacqueline Wilson, it is the sequel series to The Story of Tracy Beaker. The series stars Dani Harmer reprising her role as protagonist Tracy Beaker. The third and final series ended on 23 March 2012. A sequel spin-off entitled The Dumping Ground started airing on 4 January 2013.

Richard David Kevin Wisker is an English actor and television presenter, best known for his role as Liam O'Donovan in Tracy Beaker Returns (2010–2012). He also portrayed Rich in the CBBC series Dani's Castle (2013–2015) and Declan in Millie Inbetween (2017–2018) and its spin-off Flatmates (2019–2021). Between 2011 and 2015, he was a presenter on Friday Download.

Noah Marullo is an American-British actor from Flax Bourton, England. Marullo is best known for his role in CBBC's Tracy Beaker Returns and its spin-off series, The Dumping Ground as Gus Carmichael, a character with Asperger syndrome, but has also appeared in Channel Four's Free Agents and the film Last Chance Harvey.

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Kia May Pegg is an English actress and television presenter. She portrayed Jody Jackson in the British children's drama show Tracy Beaker Returns (2012), as well as the spin-off series The Dumping Ground (2013–2022). Then in 2022, Pegg began appearing in the BBC soap opera Doctors as receptionist Scarlett Kiernan. She also began occasionally presenting episodes of Saturday Mash-Up! for CBBC in 2022, having previously appeared on their live links.

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The first series of the British children's television series The Story of Tracy Beaker began broadcasting on 8 January 2002 on CBBC on BBC One and ended on 4 April 2002. The series follows the lives of the children living in the fictional children's care home of Stowey House, nicknamed by them "The Dumping Ground". It consists of twenty-six, fifteen-minute episodes. It is the first series in The Story of Tracy Beaker franchise.

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The Story of Tracy Beaker is a British children's drama media franchise that focuses on the lives and experiences of young people and their care workers in care. The franchise began with the publication of The Story of Tracy Beaker on 14 February 1991. Since then, the franchise has had six further books, three television series and their spin-offs, a television movie, a Children In Need special, a musical and two magazine collections. The Story of Tracy Beaker merchandise has also been released.

<i>My Mum Tracy Beaker</i> British television series

My Mum Tracy Beaker is a British children's television miniseries that premiered on CBBC and BBC iPlayer on 12 February 2021. The show was aired the week after The Dumping Ground's eighth series concluded. The series follows on from the events of its predecessors, The Story of Tracy Beaker, Tracy Beaker Returns and The Dumping Ground. My Mum Tracy Beaker saw Dani Harmer reprise her role as Tracy Beaker and included original cast members Lisa Coleman, Ruth Gemmell and Montanna Thompson, as well as new cast members Emma Maggie Davies and Jordan Duvigneau.

<i>The Beaker Girls</i> British television series

The Beaker Girls is a British children's television series that premiered on CBBC and BBC iPlayer on 13 December 2021. The series follows on from the events of its predecessors, The Story of Tracy Beaker, Tracy Beaker Returns, The Dumping Ground and My Mum Tracy Beaker. It sees Dani Harmer reprise her role as Tracy Beaker and Emma Maggie Davies return as her daughter Jess. Lisa Coleman and Montanna Thompson also returned, as well as several cast members from My Mum Tracy Beaker. In August 2022, Dani Harmer posted on her Instagram that filming for the second series had finished. The BBC confirmed that Series 2 would be the final series of the My Mum Tracy Beaker/Beaker Girls trilogy, at least for now. It began airing on 13 January 2023 and concluded on 31 March.

Emma Jane Reeves is a Welsh screenwriter and playwright, best known for her extensive work in children's television series such as the Tracy Beaker franchise. She is currently Chair of the Writers' Guild of Great Britain.

References

  1. ↑ "BBC - Press Office - Blue Peter Book Awards 2002". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  2. ↑ "Kids interview Jacqueline Wilson". CBBC Newsround. 12 February 2009.
  3. ↑ Harmer, Dani (14 March 2018). "My character Tracy Beaker changed the world. I hope she will again". Guardian. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  4. ↑ "Hit show Tracy Beaker boasts strong Welsh talent". Wales Online. 19 October 2004. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  5. ↑ "Tracy Beaker will be back on CBBC". Newsround. 26 March 2009. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  6. ↑ "Tyneside return for Tracy Beaker". BBC Tyne. 2 October 2009. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  7. ↑ "Tracy Beaker Returns – introduction". BBC Press Office. 24 December 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  8. ↑ "Tracy Beaker Returns to CBBC". BBC Media Centre. 22 December 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  9. ↑ "CBBC's The Dumping Ground in production in Newcastle". BBC Media Centre. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  10. ↑ "The Dumping Ground show to replace Tracy Beaker on CBBC". Newsround. 27 March 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  11. ↑ Hickling, Alfred (31 August 2006). "Tracy Beaker Gets Real". Guardian. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  12. ↑ Connor, Sheila (2006). "Theatre review:Tracy Beaker Gets Real". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  13. ↑ "Tracy Beaker Gets Real - review". BBC Nottingham. 1 September 2006. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
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