Okay I know it ended up being explained as a sarcastic joke that stuck, but naming a kid Treasure, seriously?! Oh geez. And India isn't exactly run-of-the-mill either... why not just have sensible Jane and Susan or something? Am I showing my age here? :PI kind of wish I'd read Jacqueline Wilson growing up, because she writes a very good children's voice and even if the names are crazy, the kids are very real. Okay so India seriously grated on my nerves as the book went on because she was very know-it-all and you can see why she didn't have any friends at school! But she was realistic, at least, and had some good points and sense even if she did occasionally brag or spout off. Although I have to say, one of her points was how people in housing commissions aren't necessarily uneducated druggies, as all of her posh classmates were sniping, then Treasure's Nan goes and asks who Anne Frank is. For serious. Way to propagate the stereotype there, lady!I liked the style, the alternating diary chapters worked really well and both girls had such distinctive voices. They're both from very different backgrounds - Treasure's mum had her at 17 and she's living with her Nan (who lives in a housing commission with her 7 and 16-year old daughters, and the latter's baby) after mum's boyfriend #5 or 6 or 70 cut her face so badly she needed stitches. India is the only child of a mother who is a practically-anorexic clothes designer who daily bemoans the fact that her daughter is fat. India is also kind of weirdly obsessed with Anne Frank, but at least that gets her to go and read tons and know about WWII as opposed to her dim-witted class-mates. Anyway, when Treasure runs away, India gets the awesome idea to hide her in her attic! Treasure was asthmatic as well, and without her inhaler, which could have lead to some really awesome drama and angst, but didn't. The ending was very happily-ever-after, but I guess you have to expect that. It's aimed at like 10-year-olds, after all.One thing that strikes me, not to do with this book but in general, is that if anyone could write a really great coming-out/omg-I-like-my-bff/confusion sort of story, it'd be Jacqueline Wilson. Has she done that already? I don't know, I just think she could tackle it really well because she can really get into the heads of young girls to write them so naturally and realistically, no-frills but plenty of teenage angst. She's kind of like a more modern-day Judy Blume but with less periods. ( )

Okay I know it ended up being explained as a sarcastic joke that stuck, but naming a kid Treasure, seriously?! Oh geez. And India isn't exactly run-of-the-mill either... why not just have sensible Jane and Susan or something? Am I showing my age here? :PI kind of wish I'd read Jacqueline Wilson growing up, because she writes a very good children's voice and even if the names are crazy, the kids are very real. Okay so India seriously grated on my nerves as the book went on because she was very know-it-all and you can see why she didn't have any friends at school! But she was realistic, at least, and had some good points and sense even if she did occasionally brag or spout off. Although I have to say, one of her points was how people in housing commissions aren't necessarily uneducated druggies, as all of her posh classmates were sniping, then Treasure's Nan goes and asks who Anne Frank is. For serious. Way to propagate the stereotype there, lady!I liked the style, the alternating diary chapters worked really well and both girls had such distinctive voices. They're both from very different backgrounds - Treasure's mum had her at 17 and she's living with her Nan (who lives in a housing commission with her 7 and 16-year old daughters, and the latter's baby) after mum's boyfriend #5 or 6 or 70 cut her face so badly she needed stitches. India is the only child of a mother who is a practically-anorexic clothes designer who daily bemoans the fact that her daughter is fat. India is also kind of weirdly obsessed with Anne Frank, but at least that gets her to go and read tons and know about WWII as opposed to her dim-witted class-mates. Anyway, when Treasure runs away, India gets the awesome idea to hide her in her attic! Treasure was asthmatic as well, and without her inhaler, which could have lead to some really awesome drama and angst, but didn't. The ending was very happily-ever-after, but I guess you have to expect that. It's aimed at like 10-year-olds, after all.One thing that strikes me, not to do with this book but in general, is that if anyone could write a really great coming-out/omg-I-like-my-bff/confusion sort of story, it'd be Jacqueline Wilson. Has she done that already? I don't know, I just think she could tackle it really well because she can really get into the heads of young girls to write them so naturally and realistically, no-frills but plenty of teenage angst. She's kind of like a more modern-day Judy Blume but with less periods. ( )

The story is about two girls that keep a diary like their hero Anne Frank. In one part of the book they become friends. And help each other. ( )