Book Title: The Runaway Girls
Author: Jacqueline Wilson
Genre: Historical Fiction, Children’s
First Published: January 2021
Publisher: Doubleday Childrens
I started listening to The Runaway Girls on audible. Mostly because at the time, I was travelling to my new job. Unfortunately, the job didn’t last but the book was an interesting read at least. In a previous post, I mentioned that I was trying to get through my to be read pile and to be honest, I have no idea how long this book has been sitting on my to-read but hey, I got to it eventually.
The Runaway Girls Synopsis
Lucy struggles with the change in her family life. First a New Mother and then a New Baby. Her Nurse is sent away to be replaced by a horrid governess. Lucy is desperate for fun. Meanwhile, homeless Kitty earns her living by singing on the streets and with her Gaffer incarcerated, she’s all alone. When Lucy’s own family does not recognise her after she was mugged, Kitty shows her how to survive on the street.
Concerns with The Runaway Girls
This book sounds like a sequel and to be honest, I hope it is. There’s a lot of questions that the book leaves open and a lot of issues for two little girls to cope with on their own. I really hope the rushed ending isn’t the end of the book, because yes… the ending felt rushed and flat.
However, the rest of the book was great to read, even if a little concerning. I think I find it more concerning as an adult that understands what is going on, than a child who is reading this who thinks its just an adventure of two little girls. To be honest, until recently, I didn’t see what parents meant when they said they found Jacqueline Wilson books concerning.
This book… I wouldn’t say glorifies running away and homelessness… but it definitely waters down the dangers that Lucy and Kitty go through. Even in Victorian London, there will be people out there that want to hurt children. While Kitty knows what to look out for and who to trust, Lucy once lived in a life of luxury where any and every person she came across was someone she could trust. She is especially vulnerable. One of the reasons she keeps getting robbed. But robbing isn’t the only danger out there, and I suppose it’s the balance between: ‘this is a kids book’ and also making sure that kids don’t think running away and living on the streets is going to be as easy as 1, 2, 3.
If this is the end of The Runaway Girls, then the outcome of running away seems like nothing to sweat about and that’s just concerning when the book is aimed at 7-12 year olds.
Handling the Plot
Although I have massive concerns with how the theme is handled, the actual plot was written really well. Jacqueline Wilson is able to get into the head of little girls really well and understand them. Although, I do question how Lucy’s father is unable to recognise his own child if she is a bit mucky and in different clothes. Even without his glasses, surely he’d know his own child. I know men were more distant from the domestic household during victorian times, but NOT that distant. Also when the police call, he doesn’t even visit to check. No wonder Lucy doesn’t feel wanted by the family she was born into.
On the streets, Kitty takes them through London as safely as a little girl aged around 9 can. She finds them food and tries to teach Lucy how to be safe, aware that Lucy is naive on how the streets work. It’s a beautiful friendship and no different to any two girls who would meet today, even in the safety of their own homes. The two look out for each other. Lucy’s posh voice earns them more money during Kitty’s street performance. I assume because the people who can afford to give them money is going to be more trusting of someone who speaks like them.
There is a time when it looks like Lucy and Kitty might have found a suitable home (although I would still be annoyed if it ended there rather than Lucy going home). However, because Kitty has never had discipline, the woman that took them in heavily considered dumping Kitty with gypsies. Aware of this, the two friends run away together once more.
Characterising The Runaway Girls
The best part of the book is the relationship between Lucy and Kitty. It’s very innocent and sweet and childlike. As I said, it’d be no different to two little girls meeting at the park or at school nowadays… just safer than Lucy and Kitty surviving two weeks on the street. This book doesn’t have many main characters, but there are several characters that linger in the background. One of which is the woman that took Kitty and Lucy in for a short time: Mrs Chubbs.
Mrs Chubbs is mother to several boys and no girls without the ability to have more children. She’s desperate for a girl. Lucy’s posh accent and behaviour makes Mrs Chubbs want to adopt her but Kitty’s rumbustious behaviour has the opposite effect. She punishes Kitty for something that both Kitty and Lucy did, not believing Lucy can be naughty too. She’s only in a few chapters but she is a strong and rememberable character.
Mrs Turnover is only in one chapter but is also rememberable. The Madame of a juvenile detention centre, she has very strict and cruel rules for the children in her care. So much so that when Lucy and Kitty give the other children the option to leave, they’re all terrified to do so. It has Oliver Twist vibes but in Wilson’s voice.
Overall thoughts
I did actually love this book, despite my concerns on the theme and how it is handled. The ending does feel rushed but it does also leave room for a sequel. I hope that it becomes a sequel just so that I know Lucy and Kitty are safe. I would prefer it if Lucy went home, even though it is clear she’s not loved there, but that’s because any other home would seem like kidnapping. If she ended up in her Nurse’s care, I wouldn’t mind too terribly. I just don’t want her final ending to be the one that they currently have.
If you want to read my other thoughts on Wilson’s work, I have reviewed Think Again, Katy and Midnight.