Author: Jacqueline Wilson
Series: Hetty Feather (book 4)
Publisher: Doubleday Childrens
Release Date: 26 September 2013
ISBN-13: 978-0857531070
ASIN: B00COMWJL0
Synopsis
Diamond wasn’t always a star. Born to penniless parents who longed for a strong, healthy son, she was a dainty, delicate daughter - and a bitter disappointment.
Discovering she has an extraordinary gift for acrobatics, Diamond uses her talent to earn a few pennies, but brings shame on her family. Then a mysterious, cruel-eyed stranger spots her performing, and makes a deal with her father. Diamond is sold for five guineas, and is taken to become an acrobat at Tanglefield’s Travelling Circus.
The crowds adore Diamond, but life behind the velvet curtains is far from glamorous. Her wicked master forces Diamond to attempt ever more daring and dangerous tricks, until she is terrified to step into the ring. But there are true friends to be found at the circus, too: the gentle Mister Marvel; the kindly Madame Adeline; and the glorious Emerald Star, Tanglefield’s brand-new ringmaster, and Diamond’s heroine.
When life at the circus becomes too dangerous to bear any longer, what will the future hold for Diamond? And will her beloved Emerald be a part of it?
My Review
I was a massive Wilson fan as a child and I occasionally like to go back to that world. I read the Hetty Feather series last year I think and found I quite liked it. As I've got older I tend to either really like Wilson's books or find them a bit annoying, but this series seemed to call to me and so when I found out there was going to be another one in the series I requested it from the library.
This time Hetty or Emerald as she is now known is more of a back stage player, instead we are introduced to Diamond. A poor little girl who is rather neglected by her family. The last child of the family and a bitter disappointment she is ignored by most of her family. her mother was desperate for another little boy and her father blames her for the families problems. So when a stranger offers her dad 5 guineas for her he accepts and so little Diamond is taken away to live at the Circus. She always enjoyed doing acrobatics but now she is forced to train day and night and learn new tricks and tumbles for the show. Circus life is not kind to a small little girl alone in the world.
In comes Hetty, the girls instantly become friends and Diamond starts to settle into life. Hetty's personality blows up across the page and makes reading more exciting, her presence just fills the story and you can't help but like her.
Wilson's books always have an 'issue' or two, child abuse, neglect, broken families, things like that and this was no exception but it wasn't too pushy and fit quite well into the story.
The ending isn't really an ending, it is clearly set for a sequel so I'm sure we can expect more from the two girls, now a team.
This book is perfect for fans of Wilson and fits right in with the collection, and for girls trying to get into reading would probably do well with these. They are easy to read and flow well.
Was quite nice to read an easy children's book for a change and embrace my inner child! :D
My Rating
No comments:
Post a Comment