Opal is an ordinary girl living in the early 1900s. Although she is always treated as inferior to her older sister, she is an amazing artist and avid reader. Unfortunately her beloved father has to go to prison so the family is in desperate need of money. Sadly, Opal’s talents are wasted because she has to leave school so that she can work in the Fairy Glen sweet factory, where she just has to roll out dough. All of the girls who work there are horrible to poor Opal except for the factory owner, Miss Roberts. The kind factory owner then introduces her to the Suffragettes, who are fighting for women’s rights. But the first world war is looming closer and it could change everything for Opal…
This is one of my favourite Jacqueline Wilson books as it has more adventurous language in it than most of her novels but still has strong characters that you care about like other Jacqueline Wilson books. It is sad, funny, exciting, adventurous and has shocking moments, which makes it an unstoppable read. I felt so sorry for Opal throughout the book for various reasons and felt genuinely happy when the good things happened.
While reading the book, you learn a lot about what life was like in the 1900s and what the Suffragettes did to improve women’s rights. I am glad I was born in the 2000s! I would recommend this book for girls aged 10-14 and would definitely give it 5 stars!
- Buy this book at the Guardian Bookshop
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