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Love Lessons
Fourteen-year-old Prue and her sister Grace have been educated at home by their controlling, super-strict father all their lives. Forced to wear Mum's odd hand-made garments and forbidden from reading teenage magazines, they know they're very different to 'normal' girls – but when Dad has a stroke and ends up in hospital, unable to move or speak, Prue suddenly discovers what it's like to have a little freedom.
Sent to a real school for the first time, Prue struggles to fit in. The only person she can talk to is her kindly, young – and handsome – art teacher, Rax. They quickly bond, and Prue feels more and more drawn to him. As her feelings grow stronger, she begins to realise that he might feel the same way about her. But nothing could ever happen between them - could it?
Sent to a real school for the first time, Prue struggles to fit in. The only person she can talk to is her kindly, young – and handsome – art teacher, Rax. They quickly bond, and Prue feels more and more drawn to him. As her feelings grow stronger, she begins to realise that he might feel the same way about her. But nothing could ever happen between them - could it?
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
About the author
Jacqueline Wilson
434 books4,715 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.
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August 31, 2023
Okay, so I don't usually bother doing reviews with spoilers, but I can't help myself here, even though I don't think many people will actually read it, so I'm kind of talking to myself!
I've read this book many times over the years, and it's one of my favourite Jacqueline Wilson books, so I was surprised to read some of the reviews for it earlier in the week. While they are quite different books, I had a similar reaction to how I feel when I stumble across certain reviews for 'Lolita' and find myself genuinely wondering, 'Did we read the same book?'
I won't rant on and on about the baffling ways some people have interpreted 'Lolita', (I'll save that for my reread!) but I will reiterate a point made by others, which is if you think her name is Lolita, you weren't paying attention.
Anyway, the complaints I noted most frequently about 'Love Lessons' are:
1. Prue is an unpleasant character. She isn't nice or really very likeable:
This is the complaint that I have no real issue with, in fact I can see why people don't like her, but I did want to put forward my viewpoint, just so it felt like someone was siding with her!
Yes she is quite unpleasant and weird and obsessive and rather at a loss at how to be 'normal'. She's aloof and even notes herself, 'I felt such a pang. Why couldn't I be nice like them? Why did I always have to be so prickly and grudging and difficult?'
Prue for me is one those characters that I see a lot of myself in, unfortunately! Thankfully though, I never developed an obsessive crush on a teacher.
She's good at reading and art and imagining things, but not really a great deal else. She's the kind of person that has the potential to grow into a gifted and unique adult, but alas, is not really built for modern day high school. I love her, even when I want to reach into the book and slap her repeatedly. Which sort of leads to the next section.
2. Prue's relationship with her art teacher Rax, isn't believable:
In a nutshell, Prue develops an intense crush on her art teacher, basically projecting an entire personality onto him, convinced that he reciprocates. She more or less worships him, hanging on to every word he says. He's perfect etc. Eventually she kisses him, and he kisses her back. I think that's the part people struggle with - that he would return her feelings. I'd love to live in a world where I could find that unbelievable, but that a 20-something guy, who doesn't seem all that happy in his marriage would buy into a young girls hero worship of him? It happens all the time. And it's sad, a bit pathetic, and in this case possibly illegal, but it happens.
So here's where I get, not confused, but uncertain of what exactly we are dealing with. He and Prue kiss several times. He tells her he loves her. It's wildly inappropriate for two reasons. Firstly, he is her teacher. Secondly, she is fourteen. The legal age of consent in England is 16, but they don't do anything beyond this kiss. I'm truly not sure if this is illegal? I hope it is, but I don't actually know.
3. There are no consequences to Prue and Rax's relationship:
This one confused me the most. Near the end of the book book, a special needs student reveals that she saw them hugging and Prue said she loved Rax. She doesn't realise the gravity of what she has said, but Prue's teacher does. It's very clearly explained that Rax tells the headmistress that Prue grew too attached to him, he did nothing to encourage her, etc. A half truth, though he omits how he kissed her back and even mentioned running away with her. Basically he threw her under the bus and she's so in love with him that she allows it.
'I sat there, agonized. I so wanted to save darling Rax - and yet why hadn't he wanted to save me? Had he told Miss Wilmott it was all my fault, that I'd got a ridiculous crush on him, that I'd made ludicrous advances to him? I burned at the thought. I wanted to tell this horrible, patronizing woman how hungrily he'd kissed me, but I couldn't do it. I loved him. I had to help him.'
So Prue takes the fall, gets expelled from school, and Rax can carry on as normal, since no one knows what actually happened. Unfair? Absolutely. Realistic? I think so.
I also noticed a few people were confused as to whether Rax is a pedophile. Given Prue's age, no he isn't, but he does have a relationship of sorts with an underage girl. I sort of liked how he wasn't some cliche predator or something, the way things weren't clear cut, because I think that's probably true in a lot of cases. And I think the older Prue gets, she'll start to look back and see more clearly just how inappropriately he behaved, and how much he let her down by leading her on.
This is probably Jacqueline Wilson's most 'adult' book, but I think it would be appropriate for twelve or older. I personally never interpreted the relationship as OK, which I feel the need to point out. This isn't my usual type of review, but I feel weirdly protective of this book, and just wanted to note down my thoughts!
Updated:
Jacqueline Wilson recently commented that she wouldn't write this book today, which I understand. My additional thought is perhaps the tricky thing about this book, is figuring out what age it is best suited to. To an older reader, meaning adult not older teen, the understanding of the warped view the main character has would hopefully be there. But maybe a younger reader would view it as romantic, rather than sad?
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandst...
I've read this book many times over the years, and it's one of my favourite Jacqueline Wilson books, so I was surprised to read some of the reviews for it earlier in the week. While they are quite different books, I had a similar reaction to how I feel when I stumble across certain reviews for 'Lolita' and find myself genuinely wondering, 'Did we read the same book?'
I won't rant on and on about the baffling ways some people have interpreted 'Lolita', (I'll save that for my reread!) but I will reiterate a point made by others, which is if you think her name is Lolita, you weren't paying attention.
Anyway, the complaints I noted most frequently about 'Love Lessons' are:
1. Prue is an unpleasant character. She isn't nice or really very likeable:
This is the complaint that I have no real issue with, in fact I can see why people don't like her, but I did want to put forward my viewpoint, just so it felt like someone was siding with her!
Yes she is quite unpleasant and weird and obsessive and rather at a loss at how to be 'normal'. She's aloof and even notes herself, 'I felt such a pang. Why couldn't I be nice like them? Why did I always have to be so prickly and grudging and difficult?'
Prue for me is one those characters that I see a lot of myself in, unfortunately! Thankfully though, I never developed an obsessive crush on a teacher.
She's good at reading and art and imagining things, but not really a great deal else. She's the kind of person that has the potential to grow into a gifted and unique adult, but alas, is not really built for modern day high school. I love her, even when I want to reach into the book and slap her repeatedly. Which sort of leads to the next section.
2. Prue's relationship with her art teacher Rax, isn't believable:
In a nutshell, Prue develops an intense crush on her art teacher, basically projecting an entire personality onto him, convinced that he reciprocates. She more or less worships him, hanging on to every word he says. He's perfect etc. Eventually she kisses him, and he kisses her back. I think that's the part people struggle with - that he would return her feelings. I'd love to live in a world where I could find that unbelievable, but that a 20-something guy, who doesn't seem all that happy in his marriage would buy into a young girls hero worship of him? It happens all the time. And it's sad, a bit pathetic, and in this case possibly illegal, but it happens.
So here's where I get, not confused, but uncertain of what exactly we are dealing with. He and Prue kiss several times. He tells her he loves her. It's wildly inappropriate for two reasons. Firstly, he is her teacher. Secondly, she is fourteen. The legal age of consent in England is 16, but they don't do anything beyond this kiss. I'm truly not sure if this is illegal? I hope it is, but I don't actually know.
3. There are no consequences to Prue and Rax's relationship:
This one confused me the most. Near the end of the book book, a special needs student reveals that she saw them hugging and Prue said she loved Rax. She doesn't realise the gravity of what she has said, but Prue's teacher does. It's very clearly explained that Rax tells the headmistress that Prue grew too attached to him, he did nothing to encourage her, etc. A half truth, though he omits how he kissed her back and even mentioned running away with her. Basically he threw her under the bus and she's so in love with him that she allows it.
'I sat there, agonized. I so wanted to save darling Rax - and yet why hadn't he wanted to save me? Had he told Miss Wilmott it was all my fault, that I'd got a ridiculous crush on him, that I'd made ludicrous advances to him? I burned at the thought. I wanted to tell this horrible, patronizing woman how hungrily he'd kissed me, but I couldn't do it. I loved him. I had to help him.'
So Prue takes the fall, gets expelled from school, and Rax can carry on as normal, since no one knows what actually happened. Unfair? Absolutely. Realistic? I think so.
I also noticed a few people were confused as to whether Rax is a pedophile. Given Prue's age, no he isn't, but he does have a relationship of sorts with an underage girl. I sort of liked how he wasn't some cliche predator or something, the way things weren't clear cut, because I think that's probably true in a lot of cases. And I think the older Prue gets, she'll start to look back and see more clearly just how inappropriately he behaved, and how much he let her down by leading her on.
This is probably Jacqueline Wilson's most 'adult' book, but I think it would be appropriate for twelve or older. I personally never interpreted the relationship as OK, which I feel the need to point out. This isn't my usual type of review, but I feel weirdly protective of this book, and just wanted to note down my thoughts!
Updated:
Jacqueline Wilson recently commented that she wouldn't write this book today, which I understand. My additional thought is perhaps the tricky thing about this book, is figuring out what age it is best suited to. To an older reader, meaning adult not older teen, the understanding of the warped view the main character has would hopefully be there. But maybe a younger reader would view it as romantic, rather than sad?
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandst...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2009
I read this book when I was in my early teens and loved it. Re-reading it now at 18 I got a really big shock. Much more wise about the world (although still not very) than I was back then, I can see that this is one messed up book with worrying morals considering the age group it's directed at. It basically sends the message that there is nothing wrong with an older teacher reciprocating feelings a FOURTEEN year old student has for him. And not just any old student, but a vulnerable one who has led a sheltered life and had little social interaction and certainly no 'street smarts'. I definitely wouldn't let anyone younger than myself read this.
Futhermore, I found the main character, Prue, to be utterly unlikeable. She's a self-centered, arrogant little priss who thinks nothing of making fun of a boys (who obviously likes her) dyslexia. I know she isn't meant to be massively likeable but it got the point where it was just irritating and I was facepalming on a regular basis.
I can honestly say though that there were likeable characters like Grace and Toby, and I can never find fault with Jacqueline Wilsons writing in itself. As always, she's a good writer, but unfortunately the contents of this book left much to be desired.
Futhermore, I found the main character, Prue, to be utterly unlikeable. She's a self-centered, arrogant little priss who thinks nothing of making fun of a boys (who obviously likes her) dyslexia. I know she isn't meant to be massively likeable but it got the point where it was just irritating and I was facepalming on a regular basis.
I can honestly say though that there were likeable characters like Grace and Toby, and I can never find fault with Jacqueline Wilsons writing in itself. As always, she's a good writer, but unfortunately the contents of this book left much to be desired.
June 19, 2018
Yikes.
I read some Jacqueline Wilson as a child and LOVED them (mainly Tracey Beaker), and after I saw that Maddie and Bee on BookTube have been talking about her books over the last few months, I decided to give her books a crack as an adult. So I went on her website, unsure of where to start and I decided why not just start at the beginning? Her website listed Love Lessons as her first published work (that was still available and in print) so I rented the ebook out from my library and OH MY LANTA this was horrible.
Firstly, it's about a student teacher romance which NO THANK YOU.
Secondly, the romance was not believable IN THE SLIGHTEST on his part.
Thirdly, the constant fat shaming was sooooooo bad.
Fourthly (is that even a word?) the main character was HORRIBLE. Like, yes she was constantly abused by her father, but she never once thought about how her actions and words would affect others.
This book gets a bit fat NOPE from me, but I will continue to try out her other books - the ones that I'm actually interested in like her Victorian novels and her more popular, well loved books.
I read some Jacqueline Wilson as a child and LOVED them (mainly Tracey Beaker), and after I saw that Maddie and Bee on BookTube have been talking about her books over the last few months, I decided to give her books a crack as an adult. So I went on her website, unsure of where to start and I decided why not just start at the beginning? Her website listed Love Lessons as her first published work (that was still available and in print) so I rented the ebook out from my library and OH MY LANTA this was horrible.
Firstly, it's about a student teacher romance which NO THANK YOU.
Secondly, the romance was not believable IN THE SLIGHTEST on his part.
Thirdly, the constant fat shaming was sooooooo bad.
Fourthly (is that even a word?) the main character was HORRIBLE. Like, yes she was constantly abused by her father, but she never once thought about how her actions and words would affect others.
This book gets a bit fat NOPE from me, but I will continue to try out her other books - the ones that I'm actually interested in like her Victorian novels and her more popular, well loved books.
March 10, 2017
First read, May 3, 2010: This gets four stars because, yes, I really liked it, as in I enjoyed reading it and didn't want to put it down. It was well written and the characters were very well developed. HoWeVeR: The "relationship" between Prudence and Rax is not very believable. Prue is 14 years old and acts even younger in a lot of ways since she was so isolated for much of her life. I can't quite get into the teacher's head here. Is he having a mid-life crisis? Is he a perv? What's up? I like how Wilson explores these gritty subjects in her books, but I felt like this one wasn't very realistic, unlike THe Illustrated Mum which was right on the money. The crazy thing about Jacqueline Wilson's books is that the covers and the illustrations are all so childlike and cutesy, and the stories are so gritty. Moms everywhere are getting the wool pulled, big time :)
Second read, April 18, 2015: I had such a different experience reading this book the second time! Again I loved it, but I found the relationship very believable this time. I think I saw the characters of Prudence and Rax in a completely different way. 5 years ago, my oldest was 5 years old and now he's 10. Things have changed a lot since I was 10, and now I'm seeing what Max is up against. I really think Jacqueline Wilson is a brilliant writer. Her work is very different from anything else I've ever read. She really doesn't shield anything from the reader (abuse, neglect, extreme poverty, pre-mature sexualization, etc.), but she portrays these heavy topics through the lens of a child or a young teenager and she does it so well. This time around I listened to audio, and it was incredibly well done. The narrator was Finty Williams. She was outstanding! I finished this one and immediately downloaded The Diamond Girls, also narrated by Finty Williams. I'm almost done and it's just as good. So after this second reading (on audio), I'm upping my rating from 4 to 5 stars. If you haven't read Jacqueline Wilson yet, you're missing out! My recommendation is to start with The Illustrated Mum. The covers are so cute and sweet and childlike, but the subjects are super serious, told through the eyes of the child living in the situation. Jacqueline Wilson is wildly popular in the UK, but not well known here. I think she's brilliant! Highly recommended!
Second read, April 18, 2015: I had such a different experience reading this book the second time! Again I loved it, but I found the relationship very believable this time. I think I saw the characters of Prudence and Rax in a completely different way. 5 years ago, my oldest was 5 years old and now he's 10. Things have changed a lot since I was 10, and now I'm seeing what Max is up against. I really think Jacqueline Wilson is a brilliant writer. Her work is very different from anything else I've ever read. She really doesn't shield anything from the reader (abuse, neglect, extreme poverty, pre-mature sexualization, etc.), but she portrays these heavy topics through the lens of a child or a young teenager and she does it so well. This time around I listened to audio, and it was incredibly well done. The narrator was Finty Williams. She was outstanding! I finished this one and immediately downloaded The Diamond Girls, also narrated by Finty Williams. I'm almost done and it's just as good. So after this second reading (on audio), I'm upping my rating from 4 to 5 stars. If you haven't read Jacqueline Wilson yet, you're missing out! My recommendation is to start with The Illustrated Mum. The covers are so cute and sweet and childlike, but the subjects are super serious, told through the eyes of the child living in the situation. Jacqueline Wilson is wildly popular in the UK, but not well known here. I think she's brilliant! Highly recommended!
March 21, 2013
Book covers like this one put me off. I don’t like them because they scream ‘Hey little girlie, you know you want me. How could you not? After all, I’m pink and I’ve got a big red heart. Buy me!’ However, Jaqueline Wilson is an author who is well regarded and despite never having read any of her books I was interested in the subject – teacher/pupil relationship – and I wanted to see how she tackled it.
I am not sure what age the book is meant to be for. The subject matter suggests young adult but it reads as though it is for the under 12s. (I suspect teenagers would find it somewhat patronising and in parts eye-rollingly ridiculous.)
I would divide this novel into 2 parts with the distribution of those parts at 60:40. The first 60% is about Prue, her family life and how she comes to be stuck in a school she hates (and quite rightly so under the circumstances). The last 40% focuses on her relationship with her art teacher, Rax, who she falls in love with.
I can see the point of the first part as it is Prue’s backstory and it clarifies why Prue is the way she is and how she came to behave the way she did. All that was fine but there was too much of it. The book was supposed to be about her relationship with her teacher and there wasn’t enough of that.
Also, I can appreciate that there are probably parents like Prue’s that exist in the real world but I found the whole situation too extreme – verging on the ridiculous. I am not keen on novels that exaggerate characters because instead of being realistic they are like caricatures, which only work in comedic situations as far as I am concerned. In the same way scenarios become too animated.
What I think Wilson did well – very well – was the relationship between Rax and Prue, when we finally get to it. I found it realistic and could see how things could play out exactly as they did.
I do not believe that Wilson was being irresponsible for portraying the relationship as she did – on the contrary. If anything Wilson is saying to girls, if you do this, this is what will happen – which I think is pretty responsible. Unfortunately I think there is a danger for the message to be misinterpreted as the complete opposite and therefore lost.
I am not sure what age the book is meant to be for. The subject matter suggests young adult but it reads as though it is for the under 12s. (I suspect teenagers would find it somewhat patronising and in parts eye-rollingly ridiculous.)
I would divide this novel into 2 parts with the distribution of those parts at 60:40. The first 60% is about Prue, her family life and how she comes to be stuck in a school she hates (and quite rightly so under the circumstances). The last 40% focuses on her relationship with her art teacher, Rax, who she falls in love with.
I can see the point of the first part as it is Prue’s backstory and it clarifies why Prue is the way she is and how she came to behave the way she did. All that was fine but there was too much of it. The book was supposed to be about her relationship with her teacher and there wasn’t enough of that.
Also, I can appreciate that there are probably parents like Prue’s that exist in the real world but I found the whole situation too extreme – verging on the ridiculous. I am not keen on novels that exaggerate characters because instead of being realistic they are like caricatures, which only work in comedic situations as far as I am concerned. In the same way scenarios become too animated.
What I think Wilson did well – very well – was the relationship between Rax and Prue, when we finally get to it. I found it realistic and could see how things could play out exactly as they did.
I do not believe that Wilson was being irresponsible for portraying the relationship as she did – on the contrary. If anything Wilson is saying to girls, if you do this, this is what will happen – which I think is pretty responsible. Unfortunately I think there is a danger for the message to be misinterpreted as the complete opposite and therefore lost.
July 26, 2011
Prue and her sister Grace have been educated at home by their controlling, super-strict father all their lives. They know they are different to 'normal' girls but their attempts to find out what being an ordinary teenager are like. But when Dad has a stroke and ends up in hospital, Prue suddenly discovers what it's like to have a little freedom.
This book was hideously boring and seemed to drag on forever. Jacqueline Wilson is a really talented writer, and I've enjoyed other books of hers, especially The Lottie Project and My Sister Jodie, but here, her characters were dull and dramatizing-ly desperate. The only characters I liked were Prue's pitable imaginary friends, Jane and Tobias, Grace, their mother, Toby, and Iggy and Figgy. Mr. Rax is a pedophile, Prue is a desperate weirdo and a creepy stalker and the father is just annoyingly stupid. They all pissed me off so bad, I wanted to hurl the book across the room and set it on fire.
This "love" between Rax and Prue wasn't real. I could feel that Prue felt it, but it wasn't love per se, instead, it was like this need to feel affection from both ways. I didn't feel that Rax reciprocated at all, though. He was at first this nice person, but he eventually grew distant and truly unlikeable as I progressed through the story. Icouldn't unerstand how a 20/30-something-year old kiss or fall in love with a14-year old. Moreover, I couldn't fathom why Prue would choose a a scruffy, married man with 2 kids over Toby? Toby was THERE! He was attractive and girls fawned over him and all. Rax, on the other hand, is just so...UGH!
Normally, when I read about a student in love/has a crush on her teacher, I'd think" Aww! That's cute! I hope they work out, but then I'd eventually want the girl to end up with her best friend, or the arrogant annoying boy, or wahatever. I mean, most girls have crushes on their teachers, but doesn't the idea creep them out (Ezra and Arya are definitely an exception!) Anyway, a teacher's supposed to be in a position of responsibility and reliability.
I know there is some hidden purpose in this story, and it would have been enjoyable if the characters didn't give me a migraine. I just wish Wilson would've given the reader insight on what would happen later...
I just THANK GOD I'm done with this book and left Prue and her stupid, unrealistic fantasy of her and Rax altogether!
This book was hideously boring and seemed to drag on forever. Jacqueline Wilson is a really talented writer, and I've enjoyed other books of hers, especially The Lottie Project and My Sister Jodie, but here, her characters were dull and dramatizing-ly desperate. The only characters I liked were Prue's pitable imaginary friends, Jane and Tobias, Grace, their mother, Toby, and Iggy and Figgy. Mr. Rax is a pedophile, Prue is a desperate weirdo and a creepy stalker and the father is just annoyingly stupid. They all pissed me off so bad, I wanted to hurl the book across the room and set it on fire.
This "love" between Rax and Prue wasn't real. I could feel that Prue felt it, but it wasn't love per se, instead, it was like this need to feel affection from both ways. I didn't feel that Rax reciprocated at all, though. He was at first this nice person, but he eventually grew distant and truly unlikeable as I progressed through the story. Icouldn't unerstand how a 20/30-something-year old kiss or fall in love with a14-year old. Moreover, I couldn't fathom why Prue would choose a a scruffy, married man with 2 kids over Toby? Toby was THERE! He was attractive and girls fawned over him and all. Rax, on the other hand, is just so...UGH!
Normally, when I read about a student in love/has a crush on her teacher, I'd think" Aww! That's cute! I hope they work out, but then I'd eventually want the girl to end up with her best friend, or the arrogant annoying boy, or wahatever. I mean, most girls have crushes on their teachers, but doesn't the idea creep them out (Ezra and Arya are definitely an exception!) Anyway, a teacher's supposed to be in a position of responsibility and reliability.
I know there is some hidden purpose in this story, and it would have been enjoyable if the characters didn't give me a migraine. I just wish Wilson would've given the reader insight on what would happen later...
I just THANK GOD I'm done with this book and left Prue and her stupid, unrealistic fantasy of her and Rax altogether!
January 7, 2012
Just finished this book for the second time. The first time I read it I was 12 years old and I was left unsatisfied with the ending. Now, at 16 years old, here is my opinion.
All in all, I understand that the book is for adolescents and could never have ended the way I wanted it too. But in my own head, the ending is completely different. But that's just me, and it's the only reason I didn't give it five stars.
All in all, I understand that the book is for adolescents and could never have ended the way I wanted it too. But in my own head, the ending is completely different. But that's just me, and it's the only reason I didn't give it five stars.
November 5, 2022
Love Lessons is a great book to read. I couldn't stop reading it! Prue and Grace's overbearing
& overprotective dad is rushed to hospital and suffers from a stroke. They were home educated before their dad got sick and now have to go to a school. Will dad be happy when he finds out they are going to school? Find out if you read this brilliant book! I recommend this for children 11+ as it is sad in some places but a great book to read.
& overprotective dad is rushed to hospital and suffers from a stroke. They were home educated before their dad got sick and now have to go to a school. Will dad be happy when he finds out they are going to school? Find out if you read this brilliant book! I recommend this for children 11+ as it is sad in some places but a great book to read.
May 7, 2020
The book was good but I wanted Rax to dump his wife for Pure . Lol I sound evil when I say it but it's the truth!
May 31, 2021
this book was absolutely mortifying to read. like there is so much to unpack, so:
1. there was constant fatshaming throughout the book- like yes, write about fatshaming, but don’t have it in the book a ridiculous amount and from every character, making it seem like it’s ok. wtf?
2. the book builds up to a relationship between a TEACHER and a FOURTEEN year old student. in no way is this ‘love lessons’ it’s illegal and pedophilia.
3. prue has lived under a rock + has not had the same social developments (and just life experiences) that an average teenage girl has had- she even says so herself near the start. for her to develop a crush on a teacher, that’s quite a common feeling that students will get, but because of her upbringing perhaps, it led her to become persistent and obsessive over that crush. however, as a teacher, if a student attempts to kiss you, you would stop the advancement and then inform a higher up and go from there. that did not happen.
4. the adult teacher somehow reciprocated those feelings???? kissed her multiple times?? whilst having a wife and 2 kids??? bullshit
5. he took advantage of a young girl who he knew was naive, and then when he was found out, he blamed everything on the 14 year old and made out it wasn’t reciprocated- resulting in her getting kicked out of school and him having absolutely no consequences?? wtf
6. possibly the most concerning thing about this book is that it was written from, + intended for, the perspective of a young person. reading this as a child, it gives the idea that having a relationship with a teacher is romantic, as well as being achievable. a younger person reading this book would not be able to see it from a wider perspective as someone who is more mature would, and would ( + clearly have by some reviews) see the relationship as sweet + romantic, being not at all illegal or pedophilic in their eyes.
1. there was constant fatshaming throughout the book- like yes, write about fatshaming, but don’t have it in the book a ridiculous amount and from every character, making it seem like it’s ok. wtf?
2. the book builds up to a relationship between a TEACHER and a FOURTEEN year old student. in no way is this ‘love lessons’ it’s illegal and pedophilia.
3. prue has lived under a rock + has not had the same social developments (and just life experiences) that an average teenage girl has had- she even says so herself near the start. for her to develop a crush on a teacher, that’s quite a common feeling that students will get, but because of her upbringing perhaps, it led her to become persistent and obsessive over that crush. however, as a teacher, if a student attempts to kiss you, you would stop the advancement and then inform a higher up and go from there. that did not happen.
4. the adult teacher somehow reciprocated those feelings???? kissed her multiple times?? whilst having a wife and 2 kids??? bullshit
5. he took advantage of a young girl who he knew was naive, and then when he was found out, he blamed everything on the 14 year old and made out it wasn’t reciprocated- resulting in her getting kicked out of school and him having absolutely no consequences?? wtf
6. possibly the most concerning thing about this book is that it was written from, + intended for, the perspective of a young person. reading this as a child, it gives the idea that having a relationship with a teacher is romantic, as well as being achievable. a younger person reading this book would not be able to see it from a wider perspective as someone who is more mature would, and would ( + clearly have by some reviews) see the relationship as sweet + romantic, being not at all illegal or pedophilic in their eyes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2022
She did shut up. I thought I had her convinced. But later, when she turned over, she mumbled, 'You do so fancy him. You can't fool me, Prudence King.'
I first came upon this in primary school and rooted for Prue the whole time, though the kisses with Rax always made me a tad queasy. Nine years later I wanna call the POLICE, SHE'S LITERALLY FOURTEEN—
ok. Freeze frame. Back track.
To get to the positives first: for me, the teacher/student romance isn't what *I* personally remember this book for. When I was younger I loved the descriptions of art, Prue talking about books, and found her furtive trips to buy lacy underwear in town while she's supposed to be in maths tuition so fun to read. I loved the little snatches of humanity at Wentworth (even though it mostly quite suffers from the make-up slags vs Prue) and how Grace and the mother have better character development lmao. It sucks to be Prue, man.
But I actually did like Prue—she's got every right to be angry with her father, she can't stick the other girls and is so very very bookish. Reading this nine years later and checking out all her literary references makes me think I never could've lasted against her in a readers' trivia when *I* was 14. She feels a little more real to me, being a bit more Tracy Beaker-ish than your usual Jacky Wilson heroine. But her story is executed in a way that is ultimately a bit pointless: Prudence and Rax face minimal consequences for their relationship, the latter TEACHER of which receives only a little slap on the wrist! I know it's Prue who makes the first move, but Rax KISSES HER BACK and tells her, ad verbatim,
'Don't you think I haven't lain awake at night thinking of you, wishing we could be together, fantasizing all sorts of things.'
And Prue, poor Prue, is DELIGHTED to hear her very married-with-children teacher say this. What sort of message is that supposed to give?? I get that Rax is portrayed as a very conflicted person but he still took advantage of and reciprocated the feelings of his VERY UNDERAGE student. AND HOW DO PRUE'S PARENTS NEVER LEARN THAT PRUE WAS EXPELLED FOR THIS? WHAT ABOUT RAX'S WIFE MARIANNE? AND PRUE IS STILL FUCKIN IN LOVE WITH RAX AT THE END AND STILL WALKS PAST HIS HOUSE PRETENDING SHE'S WITH HIM. I can only imagine the cringe later on.
I know the ending is the way it is because Prue is still 14 and in love with him, BUT RAX STILL CAME AROUND TO DRIVE HER OFF AND TO SAY GOODBYE AND SAY THAT HE STILL LOVES HER. I absolutely couldn't stand those times when she starts on all the 1) "is it because I'm 14" and 2) "if I were the same age as your wife" crap because 1) I shouldn't even have to explain this one and 2) NO IT WOULD NOT BE OKAY. I DON'T CARE IF RAX DOESNT KNOW WHAT HE WANTS- spoiler alert, he DOES and it is THE WOMAN HE MARRIED- HE STILL KISSED A 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL BACK. And has PRUE suffer the consequences for it after she feels inclined to PROTECT him. Seeing the bit where the school's headteacher says this makes me beyond furious:
'You should have thought of that before you started acting in this ridiculous and precocious manner. If I were another kind of headteacher I would have Mr Raxberry instantly suspended. There could be a court case. He would not only lose his job, he could find himself in very serious trouble. Did you ever stop to think about that?'
This is literally victim blaming. I WANT that other kind of headteacher.
TL;DR:
In all seriousness and honesty: I love JW, this isn't anything new for her. She's made tackling difficult subjects her whole trademark brand and has done it well most of the time. But I can't help but feel that this story had the potential to be told in a much better way. Yes, it's perfectly normal that Prue had a crush on Rax, but it was not okay for Rax, a wildly older person, furthermore her teacher, to reciprocate her crush. I think Jacky Wilson MEANT to convey that, but with the ending the way it is, I can't help but feel like she neglected this. And thus, the only love lesson I'm taking away from this is:
IT IS NOT OKAY FOR AN ADULT TO RECIPROCATE YOUR CRUSH IF YOU ARE A TEENAGER.
ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE YOUR TEACHER.
I first came upon this in primary school and rooted for Prue the whole time, though the kisses with Rax always made me a tad queasy. Nine years later I wanna call the POLICE, SHE'S LITERALLY FOURTEEN—
ok. Freeze frame. Back track.
To get to the positives first: for me, the teacher/student romance isn't what *I* personally remember this book for. When I was younger I loved the descriptions of art, Prue talking about books, and found her furtive trips to buy lacy underwear in town while she's supposed to be in maths tuition so fun to read. I loved the little snatches of humanity at Wentworth (even though it mostly quite suffers from the make-up slags vs Prue) and how Grace and the mother have better character development lmao. It sucks to be Prue, man.
But I actually did like Prue—she's got every right to be angry with her father, she can't stick the other girls and is so very very bookish. Reading this nine years later and checking out all her literary references makes me think I never could've lasted against her in a readers' trivia when *I* was 14. She feels a little more real to me, being a bit more Tracy Beaker-ish than your usual Jacky Wilson heroine. But her story is executed in a way that is ultimately a bit pointless: Prudence and Rax face minimal consequences for their relationship, the latter TEACHER of which receives only a little slap on the wrist! I know it's Prue who makes the first move, but Rax KISSES HER BACK and tells her, ad verbatim,
'Don't you think I haven't lain awake at night thinking of you, wishing we could be together, fantasizing all sorts of things.'
And Prue, poor Prue, is DELIGHTED to hear her very married-with-children teacher say this. What sort of message is that supposed to give?? I get that Rax is portrayed as a very conflicted person but he still took advantage of and reciprocated the feelings of his VERY UNDERAGE student. AND HOW DO PRUE'S PARENTS NEVER LEARN THAT PRUE WAS EXPELLED FOR THIS? WHAT ABOUT RAX'S WIFE MARIANNE? AND PRUE IS STILL FUCKIN IN LOVE WITH RAX AT THE END AND STILL WALKS PAST HIS HOUSE PRETENDING SHE'S WITH HIM. I can only imagine the cringe later on.
I know the ending is the way it is because Prue is still 14 and in love with him, BUT RAX STILL CAME AROUND TO DRIVE HER OFF AND TO SAY GOODBYE AND SAY THAT HE STILL LOVES HER. I absolutely couldn't stand those times when she starts on all the 1) "is it because I'm 14" and 2) "if I were the same age as your wife" crap because 1) I shouldn't even have to explain this one and 2) NO IT WOULD NOT BE OKAY. I DON'T CARE IF RAX DOESNT KNOW WHAT HE WANTS- spoiler alert, he DOES and it is THE WOMAN HE MARRIED- HE STILL KISSED A 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL BACK. And has PRUE suffer the consequences for it after she feels inclined to PROTECT him. Seeing the bit where the school's headteacher says this makes me beyond furious:
'You should have thought of that before you started acting in this ridiculous and precocious manner. If I were another kind of headteacher I would have Mr Raxberry instantly suspended. There could be a court case. He would not only lose his job, he could find himself in very serious trouble. Did you ever stop to think about that?'
This is literally victim blaming. I WANT that other kind of headteacher.
TL;DR:
In all seriousness and honesty: I love JW, this isn't anything new for her. She's made tackling difficult subjects her whole trademark brand and has done it well most of the time. But I can't help but feel that this story had the potential to be told in a much better way. Yes, it's perfectly normal that Prue had a crush on Rax, but it was not okay for Rax, a wildly older person, furthermore her teacher, to reciprocate her crush. I think Jacky Wilson MEANT to convey that, but with the ending the way it is, I can't help but feel like she neglected this. And thus, the only love lesson I'm taking away from this is:
IT IS NOT OKAY FOR AN ADULT TO RECIPROCATE YOUR CRUSH IF YOU ARE A TEENAGER.
ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE YOUR TEACHER.
January 4, 2015
2010-:
This was really good. But i didnt like the ending... but only cause it didnt have what i wantd to happen. This was really an inspirering book to me because i am currently writing somthing close to this and it has given me many ideas. Great job!
EDIT
2014-: I just read this the other day as I came across it at the bottom of my bookshelf. I remembered reading this a long time ago and loving it. I decided I would read it again now at the age of 18 to see exactly why I liked it. I was rather shocked at the story and I honestly cannot believe that I read it when I was 14 years old. The fact that there was no repercussion for the teacher who had taken advantage of a girl who was 14 years of age is absolutely wrong. I can understand if this were a college book, the girl 18-19 and her professor older but that is not the case and I don't think this book was giving any right messages to the readers. I would like to consider myself mature (even at the age of 14) and I do distinctly remember thinking that this book was slightly exaggerated. Unfortunately not everyone has the same mind set and I am worried for the young girls and boys who will read this and get some wrong ideas.
I have now changed this rating to 1/5 stars. The writing was far to babyish, even for a young teenager (say 12-15) to read and the story was just extremely inappropriate. In the sense that a 14 year old girl was inappropriately kissed by her teacher, who in turn blamed it all on the poor girl and didn't get into any trouble at all.
This was really good. But i didnt like the ending... but only cause it didnt have what i wantd to happen. This was really an inspirering book to me because i am currently writing somthing close to this and it has given me many ideas. Great job!
EDIT
2014-: I just read this the other day as I came across it at the bottom of my bookshelf. I remembered reading this a long time ago and loving it. I decided I would read it again now at the age of 18 to see exactly why I liked it. I was rather shocked at the story and I honestly cannot believe that I read it when I was 14 years old. The fact that there was no repercussion for the teacher who had taken advantage of a girl who was 14 years of age is absolutely wrong. I can understand if this were a college book, the girl 18-19 and her professor older but that is not the case and I don't think this book was giving any right messages to the readers. I would like to consider myself mature (even at the age of 14) and I do distinctly remember thinking that this book was slightly exaggerated. Unfortunately not everyone has the same mind set and I am worried for the young girls and boys who will read this and get some wrong ideas.
I have now changed this rating to 1/5 stars. The writing was far to babyish, even for a young teenager (say 12-15) to read and the story was just extremely inappropriate. In the sense that a 14 year old girl was inappropriately kissed by her teacher, who in turn blamed it all on the poor girl and didn't get into any trouble at all.
March 2, 2015
I read this book way back in 2008 when I first bought it. I was in the mood for books that have really girly, high school crush settings and the cover instantly caught my eye. I re-read this not long ago and have a review I'd like to write down.
Love Lessons is basically about a girl in her early teens named Prue being thrown into the "normal" school system after being homeschooled the whole of her life after her slightly (more like totally by my standards) dysfunctional dad experieces a severe stroke. But before I move on I would like to say this:
IT'S NOT A TYPICAL NEW GIRL TRYING TO FIT IN A NEW SCHOOL MEETS THE POPULAR GUY ROMANCE STORY.
Her family first of all, is definitely not average at all. They live these stagnant lives that rejects technology, buying clothes from actual stores, and sending your kids to school. The reason for this way of living is heavily influenced by Prue's father (which is a pretty interesting character himself), while her mother plays a very passive role, allowing her father's dysfunctional influence. Prue, being a teenager at the cusp of rebellion regularly questions her father's ridiculour rules, and together with her younger sister,Grace, fantasize and yearn about how it would be like to have privileges that other normal girls have.
And sometimes fantasies do become reality and her dad was sent to the hospital due to stroke after a hillarious falling out with Prue , and the three remaining female members of the family are left to face and figure out the "Real World", even more so when it became mandatory for Prue and Grace to attend school. And the whole school experience is definitely an adventure.
So, if you are into the controversial romance thing, there's something of sort in this book for you, but because this books seems to target a rather young audience, you would need to look back and think about WHY IT'S CONTROVERSIAL and read on with caution if you are around Prue's age or younger. And if you are looking for a light-hearted, exaggeratedly unconventional story that involves family, finding an unexpected friend in trouble times and includes a , you might like this as well.
I give it four stars, because despite the weird plot, it was really fun to read because you just can't take the book seriously and sort of relatable, if you're a homeschooled kid with no access to the internet or brand new clothes.
Love Lessons is basically about a girl in her early teens named Prue being thrown into the "normal" school system after being homeschooled the whole of her life after her slightly (more like totally by my standards) dysfunctional dad experieces a severe stroke. But before I move on I would like to say this:
IT'S NOT A TYPICAL NEW GIRL TRYING TO FIT IN A NEW SCHOOL MEETS THE POPULAR GUY ROMANCE STORY.
Her family first of all, is definitely not average at all. They live these stagnant lives that rejects technology, buying clothes from actual stores, and sending your kids to school. The reason for this way of living is heavily influenced by Prue's father (which is a pretty interesting character himself), while her mother plays a very passive role, allowing her father's dysfunctional influence. Prue, being a teenager at the cusp of rebellion regularly questions her father's ridiculour rules, and together with her younger sister,Grace, fantasize and yearn about how it would be like to have privileges that other normal girls have.
And sometimes fantasies do become reality and her dad was sent to the hospital due to stroke after a hillarious falling out with Prue , and the three remaining female members of the family are left to face and figure out the "Real World", even more so when it became mandatory for Prue and Grace to attend school. And the whole school experience is definitely an adventure.
So, if you are into the controversial romance thing, there's something of sort in this book for you, but because this books seems to target a rather young audience, you would need to look back and think about WHY IT'S CONTROVERSIAL and read on with caution if you are around Prue's age or younger. And if you are looking for a light-hearted, exaggeratedly unconventional story that involves family, finding an unexpected friend in trouble times and includes a , you might like this as well.
I give it four stars, because despite the weird plot, it was really fun to read because you just can't take the book seriously and sort of relatable, if you're a homeschooled kid with no access to the internet or brand new clothes.
June 12, 2020
This is the first book I have read by this author, and probably the last. It was very well written. The characters were interesting, even though they didn't feel real all the time, and Pru's anxieties felt like they would resonate very well with 14 year old me: a teen with an interest in literature who didn't quite fit in. I also liked how the dysfunctional family relationships were portayed, with clarity and sincerity but a knowledging the love and respect Pru has for her frankly abusive, father. All in all, the book had depth and the characters were interesting and even though the pacing was not my favourite aspect, the book hooked you in- you absolutely wanted to know what would happen in the next chapter. An easy read , too. That's for the good stuff.
...AND, HERE WE GO.
This book depicts a relationship between a teacher and a student. Pru has a crush on her art teacher who is young and fun and caring and the crush is reciprocated. An adult teacher (with a wife and a kid) likes- and even kisses- a 14 year old girl (dressed even younger for her age, mind you, not that this needs to look worse).
The crush Pru has is very indigant her escapist tendencies: she wants another life rather than the one she has, people who understand her, who appreciate her talent. The ending is very fitting with those dreams too: they continue to be dreams as she is growing up- she doesn't give up on the pursue of a better life. Which is.... totally fine. Nice. Touching. I got it.
But, why a teacher? Why put an actual p*d*phile as the love interest? Couldn't that be shown in any other way, with another person?
Now, Pru doesn't see that as a bad thing, which makes sense. But the narration doesn't go out of the way to depict this in a negative light, either. Nobody sits her down to talk about power dynamics. When they finally separate it's Pru who bears the burden (talk about some serious victim-blaming, which was never addressed), and it's because "the others would never understand". Not because....eh. And normalizing that kind of thing is irresponsible and scary. It can be used by actual adults to prey on children who want to live this kind of fantasy.
Anyways. I have been thinking about this, and these are some points:
1) this book is targeted towards teenagers. It's also very easy to read- a young teen would find it effortless and enjoyable.
2) this book is actually a teen girl's dream realized. It has the angst, the deeper fears, and the teacher crush in the middle of it all. And the teacher .... loves her back! Because, despite her shortcomings, Pru is smart, and pretty, and appreciated by the people who count.
3) nobody tells her that is bad. The whole situation is resolved in a way that feels like the tragic separation of a forbidden love, not a very very unhealthy relationship between a minor and her teacher. It's...~romantic~
So, I trust this author knows what she is writting. And she is writting a teenage girls self-fullfilling fantasy. A deam of what a certain demographic of teenage girls would want, written well by an adult. And it is marketed towards that demographic.
This book is written to sell, and to sell to young impressionable teens, without a fully developed sense of right and wrong. And to do that it is purposefully anaware of the effect it may have on kids, or how the message it contains could be used by predatory people against them. And because of that I cannot give it a higher review.
15 years have passed since the release, according to Wikipedia. So I hope that until today, the author has found time to improve on her way of handling of such complicated topics.
...AND, HERE WE GO.
This book depicts a relationship between a teacher and a student. Pru has a crush on her art teacher who is young and fun and caring and the crush is reciprocated. An adult teacher (with a wife and a kid) likes- and even kisses- a 14 year old girl (dressed even younger for her age, mind you, not that this needs to look worse).
The crush Pru has is very indigant her escapist tendencies: she wants another life rather than the one she has, people who understand her, who appreciate her talent. The ending is very fitting with those dreams too: they continue to be dreams as she is growing up- she doesn't give up on the pursue of a better life. Which is.... totally fine. Nice. Touching. I got it.
But, why a teacher? Why put an actual p*d*phile as the love interest? Couldn't that be shown in any other way, with another person?
Now, Pru doesn't see that as a bad thing, which makes sense. But the narration doesn't go out of the way to depict this in a negative light, either. Nobody sits her down to talk about power dynamics. When they finally separate it's Pru who bears the burden (talk about some serious victim-blaming, which was never addressed), and it's because "the others would never understand". Not because....eh. And normalizing that kind of thing is irresponsible and scary. It can be used by actual adults to prey on children who want to live this kind of fantasy.
Anyways. I have been thinking about this, and these are some points:
1) this book is targeted towards teenagers. It's also very easy to read- a young teen would find it effortless and enjoyable.
2) this book is actually a teen girl's dream realized. It has the angst, the deeper fears, and the teacher crush in the middle of it all. And the teacher .... loves her back! Because, despite her shortcomings, Pru is smart, and pretty, and appreciated by the people who count.
3) nobody tells her that is bad. The whole situation is resolved in a way that feels like the tragic separation of a forbidden love, not a very very unhealthy relationship between a minor and her teacher. It's...~romantic~
So, I trust this author knows what she is writting. And she is writting a teenage girls self-fullfilling fantasy. A deam of what a certain demographic of teenage girls would want, written well by an adult. And it is marketed towards that demographic.
This book is written to sell, and to sell to young impressionable teens, without a fully developed sense of right and wrong. And to do that it is purposefully anaware of the effect it may have on kids, or how the message it contains could be used by predatory people against them. And because of that I cannot give it a higher review.
15 years have passed since the release, according to Wikipedia. So I hope that until today, the author has found time to improve on her way of handling of such complicated topics.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2016
Wilson expertly tackles difficult issues, ranging from divorce, domestic violence, bullying and bereavement. In 'Love Lessons' she approaches perhaps the most controversial of topics, that of a forbidden student-teacher relationship. Prue is just fourteen, but is drawn dangerously close to her handsome, outgoing art teacher, Rax.
Prue's home life is challenging, to say the least, although I found parts of it to be overly exaggerated which took away from the overall believablilty of the book. Her father is controlling, domineering and quite the bully. Conversely, her mum is passive and afraid to stand up to her husband. She is not allowed control of money, and makes her own clothes and that of her two daughters.
When Prue's dad suffers a stroke and is rendered helpless in hospital, Prue is suddenly allowed a little freedom. She can socialise, she can buy what she wants. She doesn't need to tip toe around the house anymore.
Although I applaud Wilson for choosing to write about this controversial topic, I worried about the message it sends out to impressionable readers. When Rax implies he loves Prue, this suggests that when an adult tells a child this, it makes whatever might be morally wrong (or in this case, illegal) okay. It doesn't matter if the child is not afraid or feels she is being exploited, but that the adult is taking advantage.
I would suggest that this book is best saved for more mature young readers.
Prue's home life is challenging, to say the least, although I found parts of it to be overly exaggerated which took away from the overall believablilty of the book. Her father is controlling, domineering and quite the bully. Conversely, her mum is passive and afraid to stand up to her husband. She is not allowed control of money, and makes her own clothes and that of her two daughters.
When Prue's dad suffers a stroke and is rendered helpless in hospital, Prue is suddenly allowed a little freedom. She can socialise, she can buy what she wants. She doesn't need to tip toe around the house anymore.
Although I applaud Wilson for choosing to write about this controversial topic, I worried about the message it sends out to impressionable readers. When Rax implies he loves Prue, this suggests that when an adult tells a child this, it makes whatever might be morally wrong (or in this case, illegal) okay. It doesn't matter if the child is not afraid or feels she is being exploited, but that the adult is taking advantage.
I would suggest that this book is best saved for more mature young readers.
Read
April 1, 2019I'm not reviewing this just like I didn't with the Louise Rennison Books.
However this is not what remembered, and I found some parts so uncomfortable to read, so sadly I didn't enjoy it as much as what I originally once did, however I finished this in two days...
so did my plan work? Am I out of this slump?!
However this is not what remembered, and I found some parts so uncomfortable to read, so sadly I didn't enjoy it as much as what I originally once did, however I finished this in two days...
so did my plan work? Am I out of this slump?!
September 28, 2019
I adored this book as a teenager. Reading it again 10 years later and as a teacher myself, it just creeped me out! Definitely didn’t enjoy Prue’s 14 year old love antics as much as I did as a 14 year old myself.
October 4, 2023
I see why I loved this as a kid, it felt so scandalous and rude! Definitely not the best story ever, I'd love it to end with a lawsuit (I'm convinced this book is why I 'fell in love' with my history teacher!). Glad I tried it again and will be holding onto my copy for the foreseeable.
September 12, 2023
Felt incredibly uncomfortable rereading this as an adult, given that the protagonist is FOURTEEN and the man who she is in love with and reciprocates kisses is IN HIS TWENTIES.
October 25, 2020
This book was uncomfortable, not just the subject matter & relationship but also the constant talk about body image literally a character couldn’t be in a scene without them talking about their body or someone else’s. But it wouldn’t be a Jacqueline Wilson book without the constant fat shaming. That was exhausting. I don’t know how to feel about the rest, it was clear that the relationship was not meant to be seen as anything but wrong but at the same time Rax is painted (no pun intended) in a good light throughout, which I know is because we’re in Prue’s head, but it’s so sad that no one looks out for her and she ends up getting kicked out of the school and Rax is protected. But I don’t think Jacqueline Wilson is condoning this and it is unfortunately believable especially for the time it was written. So I actually thought that part was done well as an adult reader. None of the adults in her books actually look out for the children and they are always treated so badly but that does happen. So I just found this book very sad and I’m thinking that was its intention and Jacqueline Wilson wasn’t trying to write a wholesome romance for teenagers. But I would not recommend this to teenage readers because the ending seems happy and as if there is a resolution, when there isn’t at all, and I don’t know that younger readers would pick up that what happened to prue was so f ed up and that the romanticisation of the relationship was all in her own head and that no one else thinks that way about it. Also Rax should never be able to teach again. Saying this I’m sure teenagers would be able to see that it is very wrong and I know there’s a lot in place to protect children now, but I have so many other issues with her books that I wouldn’t want my children to read them regardless. Like any other Jacqueline Wilson book the characters go through incredibly traumatic things, no adult is responsible, they don’t get any help, in the end everything is ok because they get money but not the therapy that is desperately needed, sexism, ableism and fat shaming, body image and food obsession throughout. I think the talk about body image alone makes her books dangerous for young people it really is horrific. Besides this I hate the writing, I know I’m not the target audience but the way the characters say “ever so” and “dreadfully” every other sentence I don’t even think is realistic for the early 2000s so it isn’t even a product of its time, there are much better books out there for children and teenagers. And I’ve read her most recent Tracy beaker and I have the exact same issues, her writing and problematic elements haven’t changed at all. I think her books need to be left in the past. And that is my very serious review of this book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2023
When I was 7-10 I was OBSESSED with Jacqueline Wilson's books, and I still don't have a problem with most of them. But. I first read this book when I was still young enough to see 14 year olds as 'big girls', and I have no doubt that most of the readers of this book are also of that age (there is a note INSIDE the book that says 'for teenage readers' But seriously. It should have been on the front cover, no questions). I skimmed through it again today and I'm honestly disgusted. Prue, who is VERY vulnerable, has a crush on her teacher, who openly RECIPROCATES HER FEELINGS. Many children reading these books do NOT have the capacity to understand appropriate relationships, and I think that Wilson should have used Mr Raxberry's character to teach her readers that no adult should ever encourage a romantic relationship with a child. She practically romanticised the abuse of his power. Luckily when I first read this book I understood that the relationship was wrong, but the fact that there are still Goodreads comments that don't understand that this relationship was wrong proves that this is a harmful book for children to read. There are just so many ways that this book could have been a GOOD lesson for children, it's infuriating to think about.
August 7, 2022
I can see how Wilson might have felt like this novel portrayed the reality of student/teacher relationships and the ending [prue has to move school so Rax doesn't lose his job because he made it seem like it was just her crushing on him] only has consequences for the 14-year-old!!! who was just groomed!!! Sorry even though Rax says it's wrong and tries to 'resist her' babes she's a child, he even says that himself right before kissing the CHILD. I just can't get behind this book, when I first read it as a kid it messed me up and I reread it today hoping that I'd misremembered it but alas nope. Also, it has loads of fatphobia so fuck that. I'd recommend anybody wanting to re-read a Jaqueline Wilson novel to skip this one
January 9, 2021
I loved this book when I was a child/teenager and it scares me to death that I didn't see anything wrong with the relationship between a 14-year-old and her teacher. If you're writing a book like this for children, there really ought to be an explicit explanation that not only is this relationship wrong but that Rax is a paedophile.
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June 2, 2022i don’t think i realised quite how inappropriate this was when i read it as a child 😳
March 11, 2023
this man is such a creep, she’s 14 and you’re married with two kids?? 😳😳
September 12, 2017
Jacqueline Wilson occupied a huge amount of my pre-goodreads era childhood reading.
I constantly read and reread her books, especially Double Act fyi, and this one was odd one out in that I can't remember where and when I came across it.
So fast forward many years and I had the opportunity for a reread because my uni friend and I got to chatting about dear ol' Wilson, and she promised me, she'd get me one of her copies and tada I was presented with Love Lessons.
It's no secret this has a lot to do with a forbidden relationship between Prue and her (married, way older) art teacher Rax and that was the only thing I could recall from the first time reading Love Lessons.
It seemed weird and off at the time, and now it seems even more gross and disgusting, ugh.
So humberty.
Ah well it wouldn't be a Jacqueline Wilson without problematic issues.
Throw in a dose of dysfunctional families and this is your perfect prototype.
It was okay and I do think she has a nice fluent style of writing; however, middle grade is not my thing and rereading middle grade even less so, which explains the low rating.
I constantly read and reread her books, especially Double Act fyi, and this one was odd one out in that I can't remember where and when I came across it.
So fast forward many years and I had the opportunity for a reread because my uni friend and I got to chatting about dear ol' Wilson, and she promised me, she'd get me one of her copies and tada I was presented with Love Lessons.
It's no secret this has a lot to do with a forbidden relationship between Prue and her (married, way older) art teacher Rax and that was the only thing I could recall from the first time reading Love Lessons.
It seemed weird and off at the time, and now it seems even more gross and disgusting, ugh.
So humberty.
Ah well it wouldn't be a Jacqueline Wilson without problematic issues.
Throw in a dose of dysfunctional families and this is your perfect prototype.
It was okay and I do think she has a nice fluent style of writing; however, middle grade is not my thing and rereading middle grade even less so, which explains the low rating.
December 19, 2015
I just finished this book, as in on the same day I'm writing this review. It started off very well and good and the writing is amazing and I was really interested. But then she started really falling for the teacher, and, even worse, he led her on! A full-grown man had a freaking make-out sesh with a girl MY AGE (14) and got to keep his job and his family, yadda yadda yadda, while the child in question got freaking expelled for a mistake in judgement!
I think that Prue had no idea what she was actually getting into and her supposed "love" for Rax was just a teeny crush (her first, might I add, aside from Tobias, who really doesn't count. And everyone knows their first crush seemed like the one they would marry).
So, I think that Love Lessons was brilliantly written and great, but also so very wrong on many levels. I have also concluded that Ezria are the only teacher-student relationship I will ever accept in my life.
I think that Prue had no idea what she was actually getting into and her supposed "love" for Rax was just a teeny crush (her first, might I add, aside from Tobias, who really doesn't count. And everyone knows their first crush seemed like the one they would marry).
So, I think that Love Lessons was brilliantly written and great, but also so very wrong on many levels. I have also concluded that Ezria are the only teacher-student relationship I will ever accept in my life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2020
Another blast from the past for me. I loved this book when I was younger. I really related to Prudence.
But now... Man, the fatphobia was next level. I get that it was probably done to show how mean Prudence is but every. Single. Time. Her mom and sister show up it's "her fat bottom and her fat hands and her fat legs and her fat head."
Also the fat characters were depicted as extremely stupid.
And for her to fall for her art teacher ... I understood her. She felt so alone and she thought her art teacher was the only one that she seems the most connected to.
But wtf was a grown ass adult with 2 kids and a wife thinking???? My God dude you're the one responsible. You took advantage of an emotionally vunerable girl. You should be shot, not just fired for that.
Broke my heart for a book I used to love to turn out like this.
But now... Man, the fatphobia was next level. I get that it was probably done to show how mean Prudence is but every. Single. Time. Her mom and sister show up it's "her fat bottom and her fat hands and her fat legs and her fat head."
Also the fat characters were depicted as extremely stupid.
And for her to fall for her art teacher ... I understood her. She felt so alone and she thought her art teacher was the only one that she seems the most connected to.
But wtf was a grown ass adult with 2 kids and a wife thinking???? My God dude you're the one responsible. You took advantage of an emotionally vunerable girl. You should be shot, not just fired for that.
Broke my heart for a book I used to love to turn out like this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2009
Fifteen-year-old Prue and her sister Grace have been educated at home by their controlling, ultra-strict father almost all their lives. When Dad is suddenly rushed to hospital, unable to move or speak, Prue at last discovers what it's like to have a little freedom.
Sent to school for the first time in her life, Prue finds it unexpectedly difficult to settle in. The only person she can talk to is her kindly and handsome young art teacher, Rax. When she starts babysitting for Rax's children, Prue finds herself longing for the ten minutes they have alone together as he drives her home. But she can't act on her secret feelings, can she?
Sent to school for the first time in her life, Prue finds it unexpectedly difficult to settle in. The only person she can talk to is her kindly and handsome young art teacher, Rax. When she starts babysitting for Rax's children, Prue finds herself longing for the ten minutes they have alone together as he drives her home. But she can't act on her secret feelings, can she?
May 23, 2021
probs more 3.5. prue is insane but rax is just- horrific. super creepy !!! prue definitely did lots wrong but at the end of the day she was a 14 year old girl. and that bit where rax said he has FANTASISED ABOUT HER ?!?! anyways great quick read i love jackqueline wilson. but not my fave of hers! i forgot how weird it was dhhdhd
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