The Illustrated Mum is a moving and often heartbreaking novel by Jacqueline Wilson. The story is told from the perspective of Dolphin, the younger daughter of Marigold, a fun, artistic mother covered in tattoos ("illustrated"). While Marigold is loving, she is also highly unstable, suffering from severe mental illness and alcoholism. The novel explores the complex reality of living with a parent who is unable to cope, focusing on the deep bond between the sisters, Star and Dolphin, and their struggle to keep their fragile family together.
