KS1 / KS2 English: Lizzie Zipmouth by Jacqueline Wilson

That's Lizzie.She's the star of this fantasticbook by Jacqueline Wilsoncalled Lizzie Zipmouth.

Lizzie's not having a greattime at the start of this book.She's on the move…again.She's off to live with her mother'snew boyfriend, Sam,and his two sons, Rory and Jake.Thing is, Liz was perfectly happywith it being just her mumand herself.They were like two best friends.So why did everything haveto change?That's what she wants to know.

Lizzie doesn't get upset, well,not in the way that you'd expect.She just stops speaking.And I don't just mean for a fewhours, I mean for days and days.Maybe for good.That's why, when Lizziemoves into her new house, Jake veryunkindly calls her Lizzie Zipmouth.

It's pretty clear that Lizzie hateseverything about beingin the new house.

I hated it in my room, too. All thatbright red and purple hurt my eyes.I opened up my new wardrobeand shut myself inside.It was lonely in the wardrobe.I put my slippers on my hands andmade them do a dance in the dark.I couldn't think of any other gamesI could play.

After a while,I heard Rory calling for meand then Mum and Sam and even Jake.

"Lizzie! Lizzie, where are you?Lizzie Zipmouth!"

They shouted and shoutedand shouted and shouted.I still didn't say anything at all.I kept my mouth welland truly zipped.After all the troubleabout hiding in the wardrobe,Lizzie curls up under her duvet.Have you ever done that?I have sometimes and I've takena little torch and a book.But Lizzie's not reading underthere, she's just there,by herself,feeling a little bit lost.

What I love about this book is thatI really understand whatLizzie's going through.You sympathise with her. You wantto help her but you can't. You justhave to keep reading.Because what I love about booksis that you putyourself in the character'ssituation and then think, what would I do?It's not a sad book though.Everything's in this story!Good days when everything'sreally good and bad dayswhen things are horrible, butthat's what's so brilliant about it.It's about real people like youand meand the problems that we faceand how we get through things.

Lizzie's new stepdad, Sam,tries to be friendly.But Lizzie remembers her firststepdad was friendly too for a while.Until he started shouting. So Lizziejust keeps her mouth tight shut.And it stays shut. Even when Samdrives them all to visit Roryand Jake's great-gran.Great-Gran seems scary and strictand meeting her isn't exactly onLizzie's wish list of things to do.

"Say hello to Roryand Jake's great-gran, Lizzie,"said Mum,though she knew I wouldn't.And I didn't. I staredat the doormat. It said "Welcome".The doormat was telling fibs.Great-Gran tutted.

"Well, you'd better come in,"she said.

Mum held my hand tightand we stepped inside. "Dear, dear!"Wipe your feet! Watch my beigecarpet," Great-Gran fussed.

But I wasn't watching her carpet.I was staringall around the walls in a daze.Hundred of shining eyes werestaring back at me.Can you guess what thoseshining eyes were?All I'm going to say is that Lizziewas in the car all the timeafter that because she wanted Samto drive her to Great-Gran's flat.Are you surprised?Great-Gran was superstubborn, just like Lizzie,but she could turnout to be the one personthat would help Lizziesettle into her new life.

When I was little,my dad used to travel a lot,because he worked for theairlines, so I got into reading,because it was a wayof escaping missing him.And then I just fell in love with it.

Did you know, Jacqueline Wilsonwrote her first storywhen she was nine?Now, do you have a storyor an idea in your head?There's no reason to wait -start writing it now.You'll be surprised what you can do.

So, do you think Lizziedoes decide to talk?I'm not saying a word - you'lljust have to read the book.And then you'll alsodiscover how soon,Great-Gran needs help to talk, too.And how sometimes, whenyou're least expecting it,you can make a new friend.