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katypotaty0908's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Moderate: Grief, Death, Mental illness, and War
Minor: Pregnancy
thebooklovingpanda's review against another edition
5.0
This is supposed to be a children's book but I think anyone would love it - the heroine as well as the other characters are compelling, and the language is simple but carries emotion and the narrative perfectly well. And by emotion I mean gut-wrenching devastation, bittersweet happiness, blind panic, impending doom...etc., etc.
I liked the involvement of the suffragette movement, especially as feminism is so relevant today and also in Opal's personal life, though of course the problems of suffragette violence were also touched upon. I particularly liked the character of Opal's older sister Cassie - she was even more wilful and headstrong than Opal!
Spoiler
I'm glad she got a happy ending, even if Morgan didn't, who almost seemed like an angel on Earth.Highly recommend.
tamara_danielle's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
eshalmahmud's review against another edition
4.0
libby_gt's review against another edition
3.0
There are several features of the novel that I think a Year 5+ child would enjoy or benefit from. It is told in the first person, allowing Opal to be developed into an insightful and likeable character. The complex relationships she has with authority figures, her family and her peers may make her relatable to young readers. The narrative also introduces the topics of early twentieth-century feminism and the onset and impact of the First World War in an accessible way.
That said, however, I would not necessarily recommend this book to a child aged 9-12. The story is unnecessarily drawn out - totalling over 500 pages - and not as much attention is given to the Suffragettes as the blurb indicates. This was disappointing and I felt some of the opportunity to explore women’s rights and class was lost at the expense of subplots involving friendships and romance. I found the storyline about Opal’s teenage sister being coerced into an affair with an older man particularly odd and inappropriate, especially in the context of a (children’s) book that supposedly celebrates women’s independence.
It is also worth noting that the writing style assumes a more mature vocabulary and knowledge of early twentieth-century colloquialisms. This would likely be alienating to those whose reading skills are still developing. I therefore cannot see myself using this book in a primary classroom in spite of its positive elements.
galaxyattacker's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
tlt19's review against another edition
5.0
umrah's review against another edition
4.5