Little Stars (Hetty Feather)

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Hetty is still the same person, but she is older and everything steps up a little. All of her little dreams seemed big when she was little, but now, given her circumstances in 'Little Stars' at the cavalcade and with acting, they seem so small compared with her dreams now. Being the Ringmaster at the circus in 'Diamond' was such a big and fantastic thing, but now looking at her being a professional actor it seems like her circus life was not professional and not proper. Now Hetty's life is real professional, despite her still being called a child. The setting shows a different part of Victorian times at the cavalcade - a glamorous music hall. You feel like Hetty's life has been so busy in about the last two year of her life as she has been all over the place doing so many different things. But they never seem to last very long because Hetty seems to like change! The people the girls meet, the friends they make, the dangers they encounter, and the glamorous music hall entertainers they accompany, all make fascinating reading. Hetty’s and Diamond’s adventures are a marvellous tale of theatrical life based on the stage stars of early days. Feel sad on two counts. 1) I’ve now finished the Hetty Feather series of 5 books, and 2) My 12 year old, who I was reading it with most nights at bedtime , says this is my last bedtime story 😭 My favourite character in this one (apart from Hetty!) was Miss Gibson. What a legend! I did think Hetty might end up settling with her and having a sewing career.

But Hetty is no longer a simple country girl, and begins to fear she'll never truly belong anywhere. And even when she is reunited with her beloved childhood sweetheart Jem, Hetty still longs for adventure - especially when an enchanting figure from her past makes an unexpected reappearance. Could a more exciting future lie ahead for Hetty? Note: The book does contain sensitive themes and scenes that some parents may feel are more suitable to a 12+ readership, although they are not graphic in detail. These include alcohol consumption and hints at abuse (hitting and sexual). I greatly enjoyed this book, it is tied as my favorite with Emerald Star, but there are a few downsides to itEdie finds herself in Victorian London. She feels the same, but everything around her is completely different to what she knows. Soon, she realises she's living the life of another Edie Trimmer - and is in danger of being sent to a real workhouse! Jacqueline Wilson wrote her first novel when she was nine years old, and she has been writing ever since. She is now one of Britain's bestselling and most beloved children's authors. She has written over 100 books and is the creator of characters such as Tracy Beaker and Hetty Feather. More than forty million copies of her books have been sold. As well as winning many awards for her books, including the Children's Book of the Year, Jacqueline is a former Children's Laureate, and in 2008 she was appointed a Dame. Jacqueline is also a great reader, and has amassed over 20,000 books, along with her famous collection of silver rings.

Bertie knows all about Jem, but Jem does not even know Bertie exists and I would love to see how they would react to each other if they meet which is why I hope Jacqueline Wilson will write another book on Hetty Feather, or have a follow up later on in life like she has done with Tracy Beaker! And then there is Diamond who is now Hetty's 'sister'. She acts more childish because all of her young child years had been wasted being an acrobatic child wonder in the circus. I don't think that Diamond likes change because it's hard for her to get used to different things at such a young age. Now onto a bit of a sore subject, none other than the 'sainted Jem'... why, he seems to have grown in reverse between the first two instalments and the latter three. I mean, speaking of marrying your much younger foster sister when you're a young child yourself and have no real understanding of the difference between platonic and romantic is one thing, but to persist in that idea as an adult... I don't know, but it rubbed me the wrong way in book 3, and it did that much more so here, resulting in the 'sainted' Jem becoming a fallen angel in my books, a shattered ideal, much like he was to Hetty. But such things happen in real life, alas, they do, and this felt rather inevitable. I'm definitely glad there was a sort of closure to that bit. Jacqueline Wilson will surprise and delight old fans and new with this utterly original historical novel. I did think some bits were very nitty gritty on the topic of Victorian London. I really liked how when something bad were to happen to Hetty/Diamond, you will generally feel saddened and sympathetic. I really liked how Hetty seemed to do a full circle, from the circus, to the music hall, to her foster home and in the end, living with Harry when she joins Marina Royal.I guess both of these traits however do fall in line with her upbringing, how she's had to act selfishly to survive. She is also young, so she doesn't understand every situation as well, but I feel these two traits are in conflict with each other, as one implies she's wise to the dangers but the other not. Since leaving the Foundling Hospital, Hetty has seen her fair share of drama, excitement, tragedy and loss. After the death of her beloved mama, she sets off to find a real home at last - starting with the search for her father.

Bertie seeks out to find Hetty as the role of Young David Copperfield. When she is giving autographs he simply says how he doesn't want Emerald Star, just simply Hetty Feather. He too also lost his job at the music hall, and he is going to move on to a new act, called the gappy chappy. I felt that Bertie was better for Hetty because he had the stardom life that Hetty wanted, but Jem had the country life she never showed any interest for. She befriended Ida, the kitchen maid, who slipped her extra treats during mealtimes, and was good at receiving sweets on Sundays, although they were frequently stolen from her by bigger girls. Ida noticed that Hetty was often bored, and gave her Cook's old Police Gazettes. Hetty would use the stories from them to scare the other girls. I also found that Diamond got quite annoying in this book, I understand she is a child but she did get on my nerves a bit. 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. The story of Hetty Feather’s life continues with this latest absorbing novel about the feisty young heroine.Little Stars is the fifth book in the Hetty Feather series by Jacqueline Wilson, and I think that it is a great way to end the series. Fifteen-year-old Hetty Feather and eight-year-old Diamond have escaped from Tanglefield’s Travelling Circus. Hetty, a foundling, had run away to join the circus and succeeded as a clever young ringmaster, although she discovered it was a hard life. Diamond was the star of the Silver Tumblers acrobatic act. Unfortunately, a cruel clown, Beppo, who trained the acrobats had half-starved Diamond and beat her fiercely if she made even a slight mistake. Discovering an extraordinary gift for acrobatics, Diamond uses her talent to earn a few pennies, but brings shame on her family. When a mysterious, cruel-eyed stranger spots her performing, Diamond is sold - and is taken to become an acrobat at Tanglefield's Travelling Circus. Life in the countryside is sometimes hard, but with her foster brothers, Jem and Gideon, Hetty helps in the fields and plays vivid imaginary games. Together they sneak off to visit the travelling circus, and Hetty is mesmerised by the show - especially the stunning Madame Adeline and her performing horses. Speaking of found family, I think the greatest charm of this series, apart from its interminable cast of colourful characters, is its emphasis on found family and how it can be so much more important than any blood ties. This is definitely one of the reasons why I adore the story of Hetty Feather.