The Suitcase Kid

Reviewed by Anonymous

Jacqueline Wilson presents a child's divided home life with honesty, humor, and empathy, focusing on belonging, loyalty, divorce, and the wish for family stability. The first-person voice makes the protagonist's conflicting feelings immediate, while the recurring comfort of an imaginary companion gives younger middle-grade readers a way into difficult emotions. It is particularly valuable for children experiencing separation or moving between households, and it can prompt compassionate family discussion. Some situations are emotionally heavy and occasionally feel melodramatic, but that heightened style may also help readers recognize feelings they have struggled to name.