Customer Reviews
A great follow up - By: LE Dewick, 01 Jul 2008 
Girlsin Tears is the fourth (and hopefully not final) installment of Jacqueline Wilson's 'Girls' series & again focuses its attention on the lives, loves & laughs of best-pal trio, Ellie, Magda & Nadine.
In this latest installment, things are not going very swimmingly for our favourite lasses. Ellie's boyfriend Russell is being a painin the behind, Nadine is acting like a careless air-head, Magda is upset over the death of her hamster, & Ellie's dad & step mum are at logger heads. While the book of course includes all the usual elements from previous 'Girls' installments (worries about looks, popularity, being cool, keeping your friends etc) all the major themes seem to come to a headin this latest one & it is to dramatic affect. You find out more about Ellie's problems at home, the real extent of her relationship with Russell and, yes, you even find out the real extent of her friendship with Nadine & Magda. This book is notable for being the first time the trio has a major falling out, & this makes for refreshing if not uncomfortable reading. I for one always found the trio's 'all for one & one for all' fondling to be a little bit far fetched throughout the series, having been a fourteen year old girl myself & knowing first hand how often young ladies - even self proclaimed 'bezzie mates' - bicker, argue & 'break friends'. The girls truly fall outin spectacular style for a number of reasons which I won't give away, but let's just say that Nadine is acting even more crazy, bitchy & angsty than usual, & Magda's boy-hungry antics finally get the better of her, to the cost of one of her best friends...
This is an eye opening fourth installment & does not disappoint. Wilson handles the friction between Ellie's parents particularly well, leading on nicely from previous books where Anna voices concerns about old man Allard's wandering eye. She also handles the serious subject of underage drinking very effectively indeed, & if any 13/14 year old honestly wants to get off their face at a party any time soon after reading about Ellie's experience then, well...I guess they just must not have read the book, eh? The hints at Ellie's growing sexual relationship with Russell is also delicately handled (no pun intended. Sorry, cheap shot!) as you never really get more than the vaguest hint at what the young couple might be doing, if anything. The nature of the actual physicality is left ambiguous though it is clear to the reader that Ellie is confused by the burgeoning sexual nature of her relationship, & is also left confused by her own nascent sexual desires. It's strong stuff, but treatedin an exceptional manner. My only criticism of the book is...Russell. Sorry, folks, but I really can't stand him, &in some ways I don't think Jackie likes him much herself. I find it incredibly difficult to like or even mildly empathise with this randy little twit who bosses Ellie about, tries to pressure her into underage sexual dalliances, who steals her ideas, bad mouths her friends and...plot spoiler here...cheats on her. Perhaps Wilson made Russell this dislikeable on purpose, to give young girls a startling idea of what teenage boys are really like (or very likely to be like, if that makes sense). When Ellie gets back with him at the end I feel like screaming, though again, rather than encouraging girls to be subservient, perhaps Jackie is making a statement about following your heart, or maybe even commenting on how darn impressionable & silly teenage girls can be. Whatever, the boy deserves a slap!
An absolute must-read for Ellie, Magda & Nadine fans. Bring on the next one!
AWESOME! - By: Mehajabeen Farid, 02 May 2008 
The story plot of the book
This book is about a girl, called Ellie, her family (her dad, step mother & little brother), her best friends, Nadine & Magda, & her boyfriend called Russell. Follow her as she lives a lifein tears: of joy, happiness, anger & sorrow.
About the author of the book
Jacqueline Wilson is one of my favourite authors & she wrote this book! She has her own personal collection of over 15,000 books & I have about a thirtieth of that!
About the awards & sequel for the book:
This book is part of Wilson's Girls series which includes Girlsin Love, Girls out Late, Girls under Pressure & Girlsin Tears (this book).This book is the winner of the Children's Book of the Year 2002 & the WH Smith Children's Book of the Year.
My awards for the book
I would rate this brilliant book 10/ 10; I really, really enjoyed this book, to prove that I really, really enjoyed this book I couldn't put it down until the very end! I would recommend it to anyone who really likes Jacqueline Wilson's books - just like me, especially older girls.
My favourite book - By: Natasha, 04 Feb 2005 It was a great book & i thought it was a bit mean when one of her friends the girls friends kissed her boyfriend. But i was glad when they were friends again. It was the best book i ever read so far.
Girls in Tears - By: Selena Kirkwood, 20 Nov 2004 I read this book 6 months ago & was amazed at howin touch with young girls' feeling Jaqueline Wilson is. I am 14 years old & could relate to every happiness & turmoilin the book. Congratulations Jaqueline Wilson! Definately a must-read.
The anna reveiw - By: , 04 Sep 2004 I think girlsin tears is a great story but not the best from the series.My favourite was girls under pressure & is a 'must read' for 10-14 yr old girls. Girlsin tears is a dramatic book with lots happening. Read it if you have the chance.
