Love Frankie

Love Frankie is a children's novel by English novelist Jacqueline Wilson. The book was published on 17 September 2020, after two delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Love Frankie

Author	Jacqueline Wilson
Illustrator	Nick Sharratt
Language	English
Genre	Children's novel
Publisher	Puffin (first edition, hardback)
Publication date	17 September 2020
Publication place	United Kingdom
Media type	Print (hardback & paperback) and audiobook
Pages	432
ISBN	0857535897

Background

Love Frankie is Wilson's 111th published work, and the second to feature a gay love story, (the first being Kiss (2007)).^[1] In an interview with Lisa Allardice of The Guardian, Wilson stated that Love Frankie is "jam-packed [with issues]: a sick mum, separation, stepfamilies, sibling rivalry, bullying, falling in love".^[1] She also stated that she "put her heart and soul into the book", and "felt it was important to include characters from diverse backgrounds in her stories."^[2] Love Frankie was originally scheduled for release on 16 April 2020,^[3] but due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the release was pushed back to 20 August 2020.^[4][5] The publish date was then delayed for a second time to 17 September 2020.^[6]

Premise

The book centers around almost-14-year-old tomboy Frankie, whose mother has multiple sclerosis (MS). Frankie feels she is growing up too quickly, and bullies at school are tormenting her. However, when Frankie begins spending time with Sally, the leader of the bullies, the pair strike up a friendship. Frankie becomes confused when she wonders whether she wants Sally to be her friend or girlfriend.^[7]

References

1. Allardice, Lisa (4 April 2020). "Jacqueline Wilson: 'I've never really been in any kind of closet'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 April 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
2. "Jacqueline Wilson puts 'heart and soul' into first gay heroine". CBBC Newsround. 6 April 2020. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
3. Saunderson, Ginny (7 April 2020). "Jacqueline Wilson: Alfriston author releasing new book next week". Sussex Express. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
4. Powys Maurice, Emma (4 April 2020). "Best-selling children's author Jacqueline Wilson publicly comes out as gay". PinkNews. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
5. Flood, Alison (4 April 2020). "Jacqueline Wilson reveals publicly that she is gay". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 20 April 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
6. "Love Frankie (Hardback)". Waterstones. Archived from the original on 9 April 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
7. "Love Frankie". Pearson Books. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2020.