The Illustrated Mum
Encyclopedia
The Illustrated Mum is an acclaimed children's novel
by English
author Jacqueline Wilson
, with drawings by Nick Sharratt
. The title is a reference to The Illustrated Man
, a 1951 novel by Ray Bradbury
.
The story is narrated in the first person by Dolphin, the youngest daughter of a manic depressive
woman called Marigold, nicknamed "the illustrated mum" because of her many tattoos.
Marigold buys tickets to see her favourite band Emerald City, with the intention of finding Micky, Star's father, who Marigold still claims to love. Both girls are surprised when she returns that night with Micky. He was unaware he had a daughter and is thrilled to meet Star, and she adores him in turn. Dolphin dislikes him because she feels that he abandoned Marigold.
Micky sends both the girls presents, and Star goes to spend a weekend with him. Marigold hoped to reconcile romantically with Micky and is upset to hear that he has a girlfriend living with him. Micky hears of Marigold's behaviour and invites both Star and Dolphin to live with him. Dolphin stays loyal to Marigold and refuses to leave her so Star leaves to be with Micky. After Star leaves, Marigold has a mental breakdown and paints herself white using toxic paint. Dolphin has to phone her an ambulance and finds out that due to her mental illness she may be in hospital for some time.
With Marigold in hospital ill and tired, Oliver encourages Dolphin to contact her real father, who she knows nothing about, except that his name is also Micky and he worked as a swimming instructor. She manages to track him down and he's pleased to meet her. Dolphin hopes he will look after her, but he has a wife and daughters already and wants to do things properly, getting in touch with child services so Dolphin can be in foster care for a while. Dolphin is initially terrified of going into a foster home having heard Marigold's horror stories from her own childhood, but she stays with a kindly older woman and several younger children and her father takes her to visit Marigold, who is on medication for bipolar disorder
.
Star appears at the foster home after returning to the flat to find both Marigold and Dolphin gone. Star stays in foster care with Dolphin and although they argue at first, they reconcile and go to visit Marigold together. The story ends with Dolphin deciding that even though Marigold is in hospital and she and Star in foster care, they are still a family.
as Marigold Westward, and Alice Connor
and Holly Grainger as her daughters Dolphin and Star. The script was by Debbie Isitt
, and it was directed by Cilla Ware. Ware had previously directed the television adaptation of another of Wilson's books, Double Act (TV Adaptation)
, and went on to adapt a third, Best Friends (TV Series)
.
The drama won the Children's BAFTA award in 2005 for best schools drama, and Debbie Isitt won the award for best adapted writer.
produced in 2003. The cast members included Sacha Parkinson
, Michelle Collins
and Holly Grainger.
Also Debbie Isitt won the 2004 BAFTA award for best adapted writer for her work on this production.
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
by English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
author Jacqueline Wilson
Jacqueline Wilson
Dame Jacqueline Wilson, DBE, FRSL is an award-winning English author, known for her vast and diverse work in children's literature. Her novels have been adapted numerous times for television, and commonly deal with such challenging themes as adoption, divorce and mental illness...
, with drawings by Nick Sharratt
Nick Sharratt
Nick Sharratt is a British illustrator and author of children's books, and was chosen to be the Official Illustrator for World Book Day 2006...
. The title is a reference to The Illustrated Man
The Illustrated Man
The Illustrated Man is a 1951 book of eighteen science fiction short stories by Ray Bradbury that explores the nature of mankind. While none of the stories has a plot or character connection with the next, a recurring theme is the conflict of the cold mechanics of technology and the psychology of...
, a 1951 novel by Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury
Ray Douglas Bradbury is an American fantasy, horror, science fiction, and mystery writer. Best known for his dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 and for the science fiction stories gathered together as The Martian Chronicles and The Illustrated Man , Bradbury is one of the most celebrated among 20th...
.
The story is narrated in the first person by Dolphin, the youngest daughter of a manic depressive
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder, historically known as manic–depressive disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or...
woman called Marigold, nicknamed "the illustrated mum" because of her many tattoos.
Plot
This story is set in London in a small flat. Dolphin and her older sister Star live with their mother Marigold, who has many colourful tattoos. Marigold has a drinking problem and sometimes acts "crazy". Dolphin loves Marigold and thinks she is wonderful and unique while Star is embarrassed by Marigold's tattoos and erratic behaviour. Dolphin feels like an outsider at school, she is bullied by some classmates and feels her teacher is unkind to her. She also struggles with her dyslexia. Star appears to be more popular, and Dolphin dislikes the fact that Star has an older boyfriend. Dolphin later befriends Oliver, a shy and studious boy who spends the lunch period in the library to avoid being teased.Marigold buys tickets to see her favourite band Emerald City, with the intention of finding Micky, Star's father, who Marigold still claims to love. Both girls are surprised when she returns that night with Micky. He was unaware he had a daughter and is thrilled to meet Star, and she adores him in turn. Dolphin dislikes him because she feels that he abandoned Marigold.
Micky sends both the girls presents, and Star goes to spend a weekend with him. Marigold hoped to reconcile romantically with Micky and is upset to hear that he has a girlfriend living with him. Micky hears of Marigold's behaviour and invites both Star and Dolphin to live with him. Dolphin stays loyal to Marigold and refuses to leave her so Star leaves to be with Micky. After Star leaves, Marigold has a mental breakdown and paints herself white using toxic paint. Dolphin has to phone her an ambulance and finds out that due to her mental illness she may be in hospital for some time.
With Marigold in hospital ill and tired, Oliver encourages Dolphin to contact her real father, who she knows nothing about, except that his name is also Micky and he worked as a swimming instructor. She manages to track him down and he's pleased to meet her. Dolphin hopes he will look after her, but he has a wife and daughters already and wants to do things properly, getting in touch with child services so Dolphin can be in foster care for a while. Dolphin is initially terrified of going into a foster home having heard Marigold's horror stories from her own childhood, but she stays with a kindly older woman and several younger children and her father takes her to visit Marigold, who is on medication for bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder, historically known as manic–depressive disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or...
.
Star appears at the foster home after returning to the flat to find both Marigold and Dolphin gone. Star stays in foster care with Dolphin and although they argue at first, they reconcile and go to visit Marigold together. The story ends with Dolphin deciding that even though Marigold is in hospital and she and Star in foster care, they are still a family.
Adaptation
The television drama stars Michelle CollinsMichelle Collins
Michelle Danielle Collins is a British actress best known for her roles on television in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, as Cindy Beale, Coronation Street as Stella Price, and BBC dramas Sunburn and Two Thousand Acres of Sky...
as Marigold Westward, and Alice Connor
Alice Connor
Alice Rose Connor is a British actress, born in Buckinghamshire, England. She is best known for her roles in the television adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson's novel The Illustrated Mum, in the children's television series The New Worst Witch , and in the film The Thief Lord as Hornet...
and Holly Grainger as her daughters Dolphin and Star. The script was by Debbie Isitt
Debbie Isitt
Debbie Isitt; born 7 February 1966 in Birmingham, UK; is a comic writer, film director and performer.Isitt set up the theatre company 'Snarling Beasties' in the 1980s...
, and it was directed by Cilla Ware. Ware had previously directed the television adaptation of another of Wilson's books, Double Act (TV Adaptation)
Double Act (TV Adaptation)
Double Act is a TV adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson's best selling book, Double Act. The telefilm was made in 2002, for Channel 4, starring Birmingham twins, Zoe and Chloe Tempest-Jones...
, and went on to adapt a third, Best Friends (TV Series)
Best Friends (TV series)
Best Friends is a CITV drama series based on the book of the same name by Jacqueline Wilson.-Main cast:Gemma...Chloe SmythAlice... Poppy RogersBiscuits... Alexander PownallLiz ... Julia FordKaren ... Lizzy McInnerny...
.
Characters
- Dolphin Westward - Main character
- Star Westward - Dolphin's older sister
- Marigold Westward - Dolphin's mum
- Micky - Star's dad, Marigold's first boyfriend
- Oliver Morris (Owly) - Dolphin's best friend
- Miss Hill - Dolphin's quite mean teacher
- Michael - Dolphin's dad, Marigold's second boyfriend
- Mr Harrison - The librarian
- Aunty Jane - Dolphin's foster mother
- Ronnie Churley - The local bully
- Kayleigh and Yvonne - The mean girls
- Tasha - The most beautiful girl
- Mrs Luft - Dolphin, Star and Marigold's grumpy neighbour
The drama won the Children's BAFTA award in 2005 for best schools drama, and Debbie Isitt won the award for best adapted writer.
Cast
- Dolphin Westward... Alice ConnorAlice ConnorAlice Rose Connor is a British actress, born in Buckinghamshire, England. She is best known for her roles in the television adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson's novel The Illustrated Mum, in the children's television series The New Worst Witch , and in the film The Thief Lord as Hornet...
- Marigold Westward...Michelle CollinsMichelle CollinsMichelle Danielle Collins is a British actress best known for her roles on television in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, as Cindy Beale, Coronation Street as Stella Price, and BBC dramas Sunburn and Two Thousand Acres of Sky...
- Star Westward... Holly Grainger
- Micky... Con O'NeillCon O'Neill (actor)Robert "Con" O'Neill is a British actor. He began his acting career at Liverpool's Everyman Youth Theatre....
- Oliver Morris... Henry Cox
- Miss Hill...Lisa George
- Mr Harrison... John ElkingtonJohn ElkingtonJohn Elkington is a world authority on corporate responsibility and sustainable development. He is currently the Founding Partner & Executive Chairman of , a future-focused business working at the intersection of the sustainability, entrepreneurship and innovation movements...
- Tasha... Sacha ParkinsonSacha ParkinsonSacha Louise Parkinson is a British actress best known for playing Sian Powers in the ITV1 soap opera Coronation Street from January 2009 onwards. Her character will leave the show in January 2012.-Career:...
- Mark... Luke BaileyLuke Bailey (actor)Luke Bailey is a British actor best known for playing Sam Bateman in the long-running medical drama series Casualty, and comprehensive school pupil Marley Kelly in Waterloo Road, both on BBC One.-Television:...
Awards
Won the 2004 BAFTA award for best schools drama. In Channel 4's Films4Schools adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson's The Illustrated MumThe Illustrated Mum
The Illustrated Mum is an acclaimed children's novel by English author Jacqueline Wilson, with drawings by Nick Sharratt. The title is a reference to The Illustrated Man, a 1951 novel by Ray Bradbury....
produced in 2003. The cast members included Sacha Parkinson
Sacha Parkinson
Sacha Louise Parkinson is a British actress best known for playing Sian Powers in the ITV1 soap opera Coronation Street from January 2009 onwards. Her character will leave the show in January 2012.-Career:...
, Michelle Collins
Michelle Collins
Michelle Danielle Collins is a British actress best known for her roles on television in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, as Cindy Beale, Coronation Street as Stella Price, and BBC dramas Sunburn and Two Thousand Acres of Sky...
and Holly Grainger.
Also Debbie Isitt won the 2004 BAFTA award for best adapted writer for her work on this production.
External links
- The Illustrated Mum in the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...