The Story of Tracy Beaker

The Story of Tracy Beaker is a novel about a child in care by Jacqueline Wilson. It was published in 1991. The main character is Tracy Beaker, a young girl of 10, who has 'behavioural problems.' She can be considered very rude and naughty; furthermore, she is always telling tall tales. A recurring story that Tracy Beaker promulgates is that her mother is a Hollywood movie star, and that she is coming to collect her someday. No one is sure if these stories are true. The story also focuses on the other chidlren in Stowey House Care Home (which is later renamed Cliffside and nick-named The Dumping Ground by its residents), as well as the care and social workers.

Other characters

Characters in both the book and TV series:

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• Adele features in the first and second series. She is in care.
• Ben, Tracy's best friend during the first, second, and third series. He is not in care, and lives with his parents.
• Bradley "Bouncer" Plakova is in care. He loves cooking. He appears in the second, third and fourth series.
• Cam Lawson is a writer, and is also Tracy's 'on-off' foster Mum. She appears in all four series.
• Duke is a care worker and a busy chef. He appears in all four series.
• Elaine Boyak, also known as "Elaine the Pain', is a fastidiuous care worker who appears in all four series.
• Jenny is the head care-worker in the first and second series.
• Justine Littlewood is Tracy's enemy. She appears in all four series, but her role in the fourth series is minor (one episode), since her father takes her away from care during the third series.
• Louise was Tracy's best friend, but is now Justine's best friend instead. She features quite heavily in the first and second series, and has a minor role in the third.
• Maxie appears in the first series only, in a minor role.
• Mike is a guitar-playing care worker who appears in the first series only.
• Peter is Tracy's best friend before Ben comes. He appears in the first series only.
• Ryan and Zac are twins in care, who appear in the first series.

Characters who only appear in the TV series:

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• Amber features in the second series. She is in care.
• Carrie is married to Justine's father. Second and third series.
• Chantal, Rio and Roxy Wellard are the enemies of everyone at the dumping ground. They are in care, and appear only in the fourth series.
• "Crash", so named because he is always smashing things when he is in a rage, is in care, and appears in the third and fourth series.
• Dolly is a girl in care, whose favourite care worker is Nathan. She appears in the third and fourth series.
• Hayley is a very quiet girl, who is in care. She appears in the third and fourth series.
• Justines dad, first, second and third series, parent. (Book and TV series.)
• Laurence "Lol" Plakova is Bouncer's younger brother, who is also in care. He appears during the second, third and fourth series.
• Layla is best friends with Hayley. She appears during the third and fourth series.
• Marco loves dressing up. He has many costumes, and has been known to wear alien, bat, dog and snake charmer costumes. He features in the third and fourth series.
• Michael is a minor character in the third series. He is in care.
• Nathan is a trainee care worker, famous for saying 'dude.' He features in the second and third series.
• Shelly is head care worker in the third series.
• Sid Rooney is head care worker in the fourth series.