Life seemed to be going great for Opal before it all happened: she had a friend, Olivia, her dad's book was about to be published, and her mother and Cassie were happier than ever. But then it all came tumbling down when they all find out that her dad's book got cancelled and the publishers weren't going to buy it anymore, even though her dad was too afraid to admit it and stole from his work. Now in debt, and her dad in prison, Opal has to help her family and work at the Fairy Glen sweet factory. Will Opal be able to make it all sweet again?
Though I had few expectations of this book, it was a surprisingly interesting, funny, sad, and well-written book.
I'm not going to lie and say it was the best book of the year, or my favourite book or that I was not bitter when first reading the book but it was able to make up for itself at the end and was able to prove a better novel than many of Jacqueline's previous books about similar subjects of rejects, and girls going from poor to rich ('worse' to 'better'), it had romance, tragedy, and happiness.
Though there were flaws in this novel, for example, Opal Plumstead (main character) acted like an 8-year-old instead of a 14-year-old, she had childish thoughts and ideals, the 'romance' in the story was very undeveloped at the start (of the romance itself, that is), it happened suddenly and I do understand that love does happen like that sometimes but it does not happen in the way it was presented in the book, like she only started having feelings of love for that person at some point in their relationship, and whatever relationships she has with men (that are not at large age older than her) seems to be romantic as if there is no such thing as men and women being friends.
I give this book a 7/10 because through all its faults it was a good read, and one of Wilson's few enjoyable ones for older readers.
• Buy this book at the Guardian Bookshop.
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