Care leavers met with Jacqueline Wilson to debate the true reality of care

The Tracy Beaker books saw the character become an icon to legions of kids who grew up in care. But her creator Jacqueline Wilson faced a Twitter storm fuelled by disappointed care leavers earlier this year when it emerged the adult life she’d imagined for Tracy was on a council estate as a single mum. The Big Issue arranged for the author to meet some youngsters who know about care so they could explain why smashing the stigma might have been a more powerful message for Tracy.

Kenny Murray, who was in care from age 11 to 15 and who now works for charity Who Cares? Scotland, says Wilson could have used the character of Tracy to address failures in the system.

“Where is the critique of a system that hasn’t changed for almost 150 years? Where is the critique of successive governments that have allowed this to happen? Where is our ambition for Tracy?” he told The Big Issue when the row broke out. “It would be good if Wilson, and other writers, spoke to care-experienced people to allow us to tell her what we think.”

So we approached the author to ask if she would meet young people, either currently in care or recent leavers, involved with charity Who Cares? Scotland to discuss whether their lived experience is being reflected.

In the first book, 1991’s The Story of Tracy Beaker, Tracy arrives at ‘the Dumping Ground’ (a children’s home) as a troubled 10-year-old from an abusive home. The series went on to be the most borrowed titles from British libraries between 2000-2010, with a turbo-boost from the CBBC adaptation.

In the latest instalment, My Mum Tracy Beaker, it’s just Tracy and her nine-year-old daughter Jess. And so the backlash began. Was this slipping lazily into a negative stereotype, or would a happily-ever-after simply have been too unrealistic?

Unique relationship

On a Sunday in Edinburgh Wilson meets a mixed group of young people: some adopted or in foster care, others now independent. All have a unique relationship to Wilson and Tracy Beaker.

Farrah and Olivia, both nine, clutch new copies of Wilson’s latest book, while older guests bring battered paperbacks. Samantha, 14, asks about the inspiration behind Hetty Feather, a foundling from the 1800s. Carlos, 13, says maybe one day he’ll be a writer like Wilson. “Growing up, Tracy Beaker was the first book I could ever relate to,” says Sandi, 17, who introduces herself as a rapper. “It was like: ‘Tracy Beaker’s in care, I’m in care, oh my God!’” But she asks Wilson why Tracy shows such challenging behaviours in the children’s home.

“I think she’s been messed around quite a bit and gone backwards and forwards,” Wilson responds. “I’ve met lots of children who for one reason or another have grown up in different kinds of care, and some found it a bit of a struggle to control their temper. Often it’s not their fault. And I think for Tracy, it’s just the sort of child she would be whether she had been in care or not.

“But I’ll tell you something, I hadn’t thought of making her a rapper!” Wilson adds. “If Tracy were 20 years younger, how she’d love to be a rapper! Have you been watching X Factor this year?” Some of the young people nod, and a conversation springs up about the growing number of impressive female rap artists.

Ashley, 28, and recently graduated from university, says: “I didn’t realise until today that I’m the same age as Tracy and, like Tracy, I’ve been moved around a lot to the point where I’ve moved 53 times now. You were the first children’s author that I was exposed to as a young child in care and there was so much that I related to. However, we also face a lot of societal and structural stigma and it felt like this was a chance to change the narrative a bit – but I don’t feel like Tracy got her happy ending, the ending we all want and imagine.”