Little Stars (Hetty Feather Book 5)

Product Information

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.

But Hetty's happiness is threatened once more when she must return to the Foundling Hospital to begin her education. The new life of awful uniforms and terrible food is a struggle for her, and she desperately misses her beloved Jem. But now she has the chance to find her real mother. Could she really be the wonderful Madame Adeline? Or will Hetty find the truth is even more surprising? Some good points is that the story overall was great, Hetty going and performing at a musical hall was not what I expected, especially with poor Diamond but that is what Jacqueline Wilson gave us and I am not disappointed, it even gave Hetty and Bertie time to catch up again and see their relationship bloom again like it did in the second book, I liked the idea of Hetty and Bertie in the end getting together and while the ending of little star's seem to hint that they do I would still love to see more of it. One story that I think did not get much attention this time is the story of Jem. His wedding was kinda swept under the rug and I would of loved to of seen more interaction between him and Hetty. It's obvious that he still has feelings for Hetty and did not want to get married, instead wanting to run away with Hetty, but Hetty forces him to get married which makes an unhappy story for Jem, which I find sad as I really saw them having a chance. But what I want most of all is for Bertie and Jem to meet. The story gripped me and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey Laura went through without having to think too hard. I really didn't like the Ivy Green/Bertie/Hetty thing. Ivy Green was (I believe) in her 30's or something, meanwhile Bertie was 15-16 (same age as Hetty). But then again, that is how people in the Victorian Era may have acted. Same with Samson Ruby and Hetty. At the start of this book Hetty and her younger friend Diamond are traveling across part of England on a penny farthing. They hope to get employed as music hall artistes at a place called the Cavalcade. They have just escaped a circus, an event that is apparently covered in a previous book.

Jacqueline Wilson Press Reviews

Diamond and Hetty become close friends and Hetty sews Diamond a new dress and tries to protect her. She becomes the new ringmaster and sews new costumes for Mr Tanglefield, the performing monkeys, and Diamond. They perform for the whole season, but when Diamond falls off the springboard and hurts herself, and is threatened by her master, Hetty takes Diamond and they run away. Hetty declares that she and Diamond will become music hall artistes after noticing the name "Flirty Bertie" (her old sweetheart Bertie's desired stage name) among the acts for the Cavalcade.

Double Act won the prestigious Smarties Medal and the Children’s Book Award as well as being highly commended for the Carnegie Medal. The Story of Tracy Beaker won the 2002 Blue Peter People’s Choice Award. This book is set around the 60s and I have learned through first hand experience how common place it was for people to hide secrets in this generation. I read this book a while ago, I really did enjoy it! I loved Hetty and Diamond's dynamic together, and their act performing as the "Little Stars" act (hence the book title)My, this was an absolute journey! Indeed, it sort of feels as if years have passed since the beginning of this book, and even more so since the beginning of the series (which is actually absolutely true in-universe), and while I'm still my old self, it's almost as if I've changed along with Hetty and her rich gallery of friends and found family. One day, whilst out with her friend at the lido, Laura meets Leon and although she isn’t that interested in him, she does let him walk her home after a tiff with her friend. Leon ends up having sex with Laura, it’s a blurred line of consent as we realise Laura doesn’t actually know what is happening and is therefore never able to say yes or no. This a few months down the line leads to Laura discovering she is pregnant and as the blurb states, it ends up with her being sent away. Maybe it’s because it’s in England (or maybe because it’s a Jacqueline Wilson novel), she isn’t sentenced to a life of gloom in this home for expectant mothers, it’s certainly not the best but it isn’t the tales from those horrible Irish nuns convent. Laura comes across all sorts of girls here and they all share their tales and deal with the harsh opinions of older women and the realities of what having a baby this young can mean. The story of Hetty Feather’s life continues with this latest absorbing novel about the feisty young heroine. 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 😭 This generation was always remembered as so ‘stiff upper lip’ and trying always to do the ‘decent’ thing but it made me question, decent for who?

Later, Ida and Hetty are caught when they visit and Ida is fired from the hospital, but Sarah Smith writes a letter of reference for Ida so she can get another job. Sarah keeps taking out Hetty and introduces her to Clover Moon and the Rivers family. When Nina starts waving at some boys on the diving boards, Laura is horrified, but does her best to look sixteen like Nina is trying to pull off. The boys who look a lot older close up, reveal they are French exchange students. Nina immediately looks at ease and trying to match her confident friend, Laura agrees to one of the boys walking her home, including a detour on the way.I just love this entire series, I've read plenty of books, but this is by far one of my favourite series. Although it's aimed at children, I believe anyone can thoroughly enjoy it. 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. 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? Jacqueline Wilson will surprise and delight old fans and new with this utterly original historical novel.

Hetty Feather has begun a new chapter in her life story. Escaping from Tanglefield's Travelling Circus with her dearest friend Diamond, Hetty is determined to find them positions as glamorous music hall artistes. 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. 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. 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. The Victorian era is also fleshed out throughout, and Jacqueline gives you multiple glimpses in varying locations. You connect with these characters, and I know there's a special place for Hetty in my heart.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.