You slowly lift your head from your desk realising your teacher is glaring at you for falling asleep, yet again, in the your copy of the famous novel ‘Oliver Twist’ – another Victorian novel imprinted on your summer reading list for you to finish, and, inadvertently enjoy. Yet why is this novel, and not say ‘Secrets’ by Jacqueline Wilson on the list?

Both novels, when written, were intentionally children’s books, and both to educate readers on the subject of the attitude towards children in society. But as Dickens is a century-old, it is listed as having greater priority than a book which shouts out about current domestic abuse that needs to be addressed and comprehended.

OK, the language in ‘Oliver Twist’ will certainly be found more challenging than a modern-day novel to a modern-day reader: the plot may be more complex; and the historical insight gained may be more useful to the next-generation than J.W.; but still there are insightful characters and a compassionate string that keeps the reader gripped page-to-page of a Jacqueline Wilson novel – an experience which, all readers should share at some point in their lives.

Thrusting Victorian novel’s into children’s hands, may, in hindsight create a generation of avid, intelligent, readers; however, it is important not to deprive children of writing that creates empathy and an understanding of the real world as it is today.