The Lottie Project facts for kids
Cover of the 1997 first edition
|
|
| Author | Jacqueline Wilson |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Nick Sharratt |
| Cover artist | Nick Sharratt |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Doubleday (first edition, hardback) |
|
Publication date
|
1 May 1997 (first edition, hardback) |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) and audiobook |
| Pages | 203 pp (first edition, hardback) |
| ISBN | 978-0-385-40703-8 (first edition, hardback) |
| OCLC | 43219159 |
The Lottie Project is an exciting children's novel by the famous English author Jacqueline Wilson. Nick Sharratt created the fun illustrations for the book. This story is a bit different from many of Jacqueline Wilson's other books. Usually, her main characters are not very popular at school. But in this book, the main character is quite popular!
Contents
Story Summary
Meet Charlie and Her New Teacher
The main character is eleven-year-old Charlotte Enright. She prefers to be called Charlie. Charlie lives in a flat with her mum, Jo. She is very popular at school and has many friends. Her two best friends are Angela Robinson and Lisa Field.
Things change when their usual teacher, Mrs. Thomas, goes on maternity leave. A strict new teacher, Miss Beckworth, takes over. Charlie does not like Miss Beckworth right away. Miss Beckworth insists on calling Charlie "Charlotte." She also makes Charlie sit next to James Edwards, a very smart boy whom Charlie dislikes.
A Victorian Project and a New Diary
Miss Beckworth gives the class a history project about the Victorians. Charlie thinks this topic will be boring. She doesn't pay much attention at first. But then she sees a picture of a Victorian servant girl. This girl looks exactly like Charlie!
This sparks an idea. Charlie decides to write a diary from the point of view of this Victorian girl. She names her character Lottie. Lottie is also eleven years old, just like Charlie. But Lottie has left school to become a servant.
Changes at Home
Meanwhile, Charlie's mum, Jo, loses her job. She used to manage a shop with twelve staff members. To earn money, Jo starts cleaning houses and supermarkets. She also looks after a young boy named Robin.
Jo starts to like Robin's dad, Mark. Charlie is not happy about this, even though Jo says they are just friends. One day, Charlie, Robin, Jo, and Mark go to a theme park. Charlie and Robin see Mark and Jo kissing on a ride. Everyone feels a bit awkward afterwards.
Robin Goes Missing
Charlie is upset about her mum and Mark. She tells Robin that neither of his parents want him anymore. Robin's mum's new partner doesn't get along with Robin. Upset by Charlie's words, Robin runs away. Mark and Jo are very worried and sad. Charlie feels very guilty.
In Lottie's diary, a similar sad event happens. Lottie gets a job as a nursery maid. She looks after three children: Victor, Louisa, and baby Freddie. One day at the park, Lottie gets angry and storms off. When she comes back, baby Freddie has been taken from his pram. Lottie is very upset and distressed, just like Charlie is about Robin.
Robin is Found
Robin is later found at a train station. He was hiding behind some packages. He is very cold and is rushed to the hospital. Charlie admits to Mark, Jo, and the police what she said to Robin. Mark is very upset with Charlie.
Charlie is relieved that Robin is safe. But she is still very sad because Robin catches pneumonia.
Book Achievements
The Lottie Project has won and been nominated for several awards:
- 1998: It won the Stockport School's Book Award.
- 1998: It was highly praised in the Sheffield Children's Book Award.
- 1998: It was a finalist for the Oak Tree Award, Nottingham Children's Book Award.
- 1998: It was also a finalist for the Red House Children's Book Award.
On Stage
The story of The Lottie Project has also been turned into a play. It was performed in 1999 and 2000 at the Polka Theater in Wimbledon, England. The play was adapted by Freddie Murray, who also helped write the book for the stage.
The play was performed again at The Whitstable Playhouse Theatre in Kent, United Kingdom, on 20 and 21 July 2019.
