"I shut my eyes but I can still hear her. I put my hands over my ears but I can still hear her. I can run and run and run but I’ll never be able to get away from her." Jacqueline Wilson’s poignant children's novel Vicky Angel follows fourteen-year-old Jade Marshall as she navigates life after her best friend Vicky’s death; but burdened by feelings of guilt and unable to accept the reality of Vicky’s cruelty towards her, she begins seeing Vicky’s ghost, who wreaks havoc on her life and relationships. With simple and effective writing, Jade’s (painfully relatable) voice is allowed to shine through the narrative; and all her innermost thoughts and emotions, in their truest and ugliest forms, are laid bare.
What made the story most rewarding to read, even as an adult, was Wilson’s resistance to writing characters that fit neatly into moralistic boxes, instead painting the story in the shades of grey that colour real human experiences. Jade’s mum can be neglectful and ignorant but also comes to her support, leading to some of the most heartwarming moments of genuine happiness for Jade. And although Jade’s journey with grief and mental health is complicated by the growing realization of Vicky’s ill-treatment towards her, we’re reminded to separate the real Vicky from the villainous spirit taking her form in Jade’s mind, exaggerated by guilt and poor self-esteem.
For a short novel, Wilson manages to build a set of characters so rich with backstory, that reading it feels like experiencing the real world through Jade’s eyes – in all its messiness and imperfection and warmth and wonder. So, when Jade is finally ready to move on, and Vicky Angel "flaps wings as white as swansdown, waves one last time, and flies away," we can trust that they will be there for her as she starts her new life.
About the reviewer
Aamani Bommareddy is currently an undergraduate student of Journalism and Creative
Writing at the University of Leicester, with a particular interest in literature and music.
Along with journalistic articles and features, she enjoys writing short stories.
Aamani Bommareddy is currently an undergraduate student of Journalism and Creative
Writing at the University of Leicester, with a particular interest in literature and music.
Along with journalistic articles and features, she enjoys writing short stories.
This review was awarded an "honorable mention" in our 2026 Student Book Review Competition, held in conjunction with the Centre for New Writing at the University of Leicester.
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