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Hetty Feather #4
Diamond
The fantastic new novel from bestselling author Jacqueline Wilson, starring Diamond, the little circus acrobat who first appeared in the hugely popular Hetty Feather books: Hetty Feather, Sapphire Battersea and Emerald Star.
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.
Discovering she has an extraordinary gift for acrobatics, Diamond uses her talent to earn a few pennies, but brings shame on her family. Then a mysterious, cruel-eyed stranger spots her performing, and makes a deal with her father. Diamond is sold for five guineas, and is taken to become an acrobat at Tanglefield’s Travelling Circus.
The crowds adore Diamond, but life behind the velvet curtains is far from glamorous. Her wicked master forces Diamond to attempt ever more daring and dangerous tricks, until she is terrified to step into the ring. But there are true friends to be found at the circus, too: the gentle Mister Marvel; the kindly Madame Adeline; and the glorious Emerald Star, Tanglefield’s brand-new ringmaster, and Diamond’s heroine.
When life at the circus becomes too dangerous to bear any longer, what will the future hold for Diamond? And will her beloved Emerald be a part of it?
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.
Discovering she has an extraordinary gift for acrobatics, Diamond uses her talent to earn a few pennies, but brings shame on her family. Then a mysterious, cruel-eyed stranger spots her performing, and makes a deal with her father. Diamond is sold for five guineas, and is taken to become an acrobat at Tanglefield’s Travelling Circus.
The crowds adore Diamond, but life behind the velvet curtains is far from glamorous. Her wicked master forces Diamond to attempt ever more daring and dangerous tricks, until she is terrified to step into the ring. But there are true friends to be found at the circus, too: the gentle Mister Marvel; the kindly Madame Adeline; and the glorious Emerald Star, Tanglefield’s brand-new ringmaster, and Diamond’s heroine.
When life at the circus becomes too dangerous to bear any longer, what will the future hold for Diamond? And will her beloved Emerald be a part of it?
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
108 people are currently reading
1888 people want to read
About the author
Jacqueline Wilson
399 books5,704 followersJacqueline Wilson was born in Bath in 1945, but spent most of her childhood in Kingston-on-Thames. She always wanted to be a writer and wrote her first ‘novel’ when she was nine, filling in countless Woolworths’ exercise books as she grew up. As a teenager she started work for a magazine publishing company and then went on to work as a journalist on Jackie magazine (which she was told was named after her!) before turning to writing novels full-time.
One of Jacqueline’s most successful and enduring creations has been the famous Tracy Beaker, who first appeared in 1991 in The Story of Tracy Beaker. This was also the first of her books to be illustrated by Nick Sharratt. Since then Jacqueline has been on countless awards shortlists and has gone on to win many awards. The Illustrated Mum won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award, the 1999 Children’s Book of the Year at the British Book Awards and was also shortlisted for the 1999 Whitbread Children’s Book Award.
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.
Jacqueline is one of the nation’s favourite authors, and her books are loved and cherished by young readers not only in the UK but all over the world. She has sold millions of books and in the UK alone the total now stands at over 35 million!
In 2002 Jacqueline was awarded the OBE for services to literacy in schools and from 2005 to 2007 she was the Children’s Laureate. In 2008 she became Dame Jacqueline Wilson.
One of Jacqueline’s most successful and enduring creations has been the famous Tracy Beaker, who first appeared in 1991 in The Story of Tracy Beaker. This was also the first of her books to be illustrated by Nick Sharratt. Since then Jacqueline has been on countless awards shortlists and has gone on to win many awards. The Illustrated Mum won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award, the 1999 Children’s Book of the Year at the British Book Awards and was also shortlisted for the 1999 Whitbread Children’s Book Award.
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.
Jacqueline is one of the nation’s favourite authors, and her books are loved and cherished by young readers not only in the UK but all over the world. She has sold millions of books and in the UK alone the total now stands at over 35 million!
In 2002 Jacqueline was awarded the OBE for services to literacy in schools and from 2005 to 2007 she was the Children’s Laureate. In 2008 she became Dame Jacqueline Wilson.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
September 26, 2013
(Goodreads giveaway winner)
Both my daughters (aged 8 and 10) have adored reading this book - it has been difficult to tear them away from it. Neither girl found anything in the book too upsetting and both found reading it to be a very positive experience. I did intend to read it too, but they have been so excitedly keeping me updated on every funny event and riveting twist that I decided to just let them write the review. Here goes...
8 yr old:
I really really liked it. I think it's meant to be a normal book but it is shiny and rather good inside. I would recommend it to 8 and over.
I liked Diamond because she was silly and dramatic. Her friends and the monkeys are funny and nice to read about.
Mr Tanglefield and Beppo were mean to Diamond and Hetty Feather and my favourite bit was when everybody fought Mr Tanglefield and Beppo to help and protect them.
The storyline was amazing and it had a happy ending.
10 yr old:
I'm reading this book for the second time now. I liked it, but some parts about the circus were a bit boring. The ending was very exciting.
There were a few tricky words and some Victorian words, like 'privy', which took me a while to figure out what they meant. There was also some violence so I would recommend this book for ages 7 or 8 and over.
In my opinion most of the characters were exciting & interesting but I thought that Diamond's Ma was a little bit weird. I really liked Hetty Feather and I thought that the author did very well writing the book in first person, because whenever Diamond got hurt you felt like 'Oh no!'.
Therefore I recommend this book as it is very, very exciting.
Both my daughters (aged 8 and 10) have adored reading this book - it has been difficult to tear them away from it. Neither girl found anything in the book too upsetting and both found reading it to be a very positive experience. I did intend to read it too, but they have been so excitedly keeping me updated on every funny event and riveting twist that I decided to just let them write the review. Here goes...
8 yr old:
I really really liked it. I think it's meant to be a normal book but it is shiny and rather good inside. I would recommend it to 8 and over.
I liked Diamond because she was silly and dramatic. Her friends and the monkeys are funny and nice to read about.
Mr Tanglefield and Beppo were mean to Diamond and Hetty Feather and my favourite bit was when everybody fought Mr Tanglefield and Beppo to help and protect them.
The storyline was amazing and it had a happy ending.
10 yr old:
I'm reading this book for the second time now. I liked it, but some parts about the circus were a bit boring. The ending was very exciting.
There were a few tricky words and some Victorian words, like 'privy', which took me a while to figure out what they meant. There was also some violence so I would recommend this book for ages 7 or 8 and over.
In my opinion most of the characters were exciting & interesting but I thought that Diamond's Ma was a little bit weird. I really liked Hetty Feather and I thought that the author did very well writing the book in first person, because whenever Diamond got hurt you felt like 'Oh no!'.
Therefore I recommend this book as it is very, very exciting.
October 28, 2013
I was a massive Wilson fan as a child and I occasionally like to go back to that world. I read the Hetty Feather series last year I think and found I quite liked it. As I've got older I tend to either really like Wilson's books or find them a bit annoying, but this series seemed to call to me and so when I found out there was going to be another one in the series I requested it from the library.
This time Hetty or Emerald as she is now known is more of a back stage player, instead we are introduced to Diamond. A poor little girl who is rather neglected by her family. The last child of the family and a bitter disappointment she is ignored by most of her family. her mother was desperate for another little boy and her father blames her for the families problems. So when a stranger offers her dad 5 guineas for her he accepts and so little Diamond is taken away to live at the Circus. She always enjoyed doing acrobatics but now she is forced to train day and night and learn new tricks and tumbles for the show. Circus life is not kind to a small little girl alone in the world.
In comes Hetty, the girls instantly become friends and Diamond starts to settle into life. Hetty's personality blows up across the page and makes reading more exciting, her presence just fills the story and you can't help but like her.
Wilson's books always have an 'issue' or two, child abuse, neglect, broken families, things like that and this was no exception but it wasn't too pushy and fit quite well into the story.
The ending isn't really an ending, it is clearly set for a sequel so I'm sure we can expect more from the two girls, now a team.
This book is perfect for fans of Wilson and fits right in with the collection, and for girls trying to get into reading would probably do well with these. They are easy to read and flow well.
Was quite nice to read an easy children's book for a change and embrace my inner child! :D
This time Hetty or Emerald as she is now known is more of a back stage player, instead we are introduced to Diamond. A poor little girl who is rather neglected by her family. The last child of the family and a bitter disappointment she is ignored by most of her family. her mother was desperate for another little boy and her father blames her for the families problems. So when a stranger offers her dad 5 guineas for her he accepts and so little Diamond is taken away to live at the Circus. She always enjoyed doing acrobatics but now she is forced to train day and night and learn new tricks and tumbles for the show. Circus life is not kind to a small little girl alone in the world.
In comes Hetty, the girls instantly become friends and Diamond starts to settle into life. Hetty's personality blows up across the page and makes reading more exciting, her presence just fills the story and you can't help but like her.
Wilson's books always have an 'issue' or two, child abuse, neglect, broken families, things like that and this was no exception but it wasn't too pushy and fit quite well into the story.
The ending isn't really an ending, it is clearly set for a sequel so I'm sure we can expect more from the two girls, now a team.
This book is perfect for fans of Wilson and fits right in with the collection, and for girls trying to get into reading would probably do well with these. They are easy to read and flow well.
Was quite nice to read an easy children's book for a change and embrace my inner child! :D
May 20, 2024
I chose the five-star rating because Diamond by Jacqueline Wilson is the best of the lot. Jacqueline wrote three other books about Hetty in this book but this one is about her little friend Diamond. Diamond is originally called Ellen-Jane but her father sells her to a clown called Beppo who makes her work too hard. Then she meets Hetty and her life is much better. I like the bit where Hetty and Diamond are in Madame Adeline's wagon and they have cake. it is a bit sad when Madame Adeline has to leave the circus with Mr Marvel but Hetty and Diamond get to live in her old wagon. I would recommend this book to anyone who has read the rest of the Hetty Feather series and absolutely loves them just as I do!!! I SAY GET THIS BOOK!!!
May 28, 2018
I LOVED this new take ( I read these books a while ago though ) and Diamond is so sweet! The Hetty Feather series are my favourite Jac Wilson books.
btw I added a date read because I reread it.
btw I added a date read because I reread it.
January 16, 2018
Too violent for childs.
February 3, 2016
The amazing story of what is behind the 19th century circus curtain: a life a torture and friendships. Diamond was only a little girl when she was signed over to the circus and has to go through challenging obstacles, but when Hetty Feather arrives, Diamond's world changes immediately.
March 27, 2015
I thought this would finish up the series but I have the feeling that it's not done yet ...
July 15, 2016
Really enjoyed this book!
You need to read the first four books of this series first though to understand(hetty feather series)
You will enjoy this book so much
You need to read the first four books of this series first though to understand(hetty feather series)
You will enjoy this book so much
February 15, 2022
Although this is part of the Hetty Feather series, she has a small part & the majority of the book is about a young girl called Ellen-Jane, later known as Diamond. Ellen-Jane was a poor girl who was rather neglected by her family, especially after the death of her mother. Sold to a circus man by her alcoholic father, Ellen-Jane is renamed Diamond & put to work as an acrobat in the circus. She is not treated well. She has always enjoyed doing acrobatics but now she is forced to train all day, learning new tricks & then perform at night. She is pushed to her limits & beyond, constantly exhausted & in pain, she is threatened with beatings if she doesn’t meet expectations.
I always understood that a circus family was a close one & the people in Tanglefield’s Travelling Circus are very much a series of individuals, with the only friendships really between the “Silver Boys” who ultimately become like big brothers to little Diamond. This made some of the circus parts a bit disjointed & repetitive/
There are some tricky words, but overall an easy-to-read book aimed well at the 8-12 age group. Parents should be aware that there are “beatings” and cruel treatment of children but it’s in keeping with the era & children are likely to have learnt about this sort of thing in school lessons about the Victorians. There is a positive message about friendship, kindness and finding good in difficult circumstances.
You don’t need to have read other books in the series to enjoy this one, but I am sure it would give you a deeper insight into Hetty! The ending has been left open for a sequel.
I always understood that a circus family was a close one & the people in Tanglefield’s Travelling Circus are very much a series of individuals, with the only friendships really between the “Silver Boys” who ultimately become like big brothers to little Diamond. This made some of the circus parts a bit disjointed & repetitive/
There are some tricky words, but overall an easy-to-read book aimed well at the 8-12 age group. Parents should be aware that there are “beatings” and cruel treatment of children but it’s in keeping with the era & children are likely to have learnt about this sort of thing in school lessons about the Victorians. There is a positive message about friendship, kindness and finding good in difficult circumstances.
You don’t need to have read other books in the series to enjoy this one, but I am sure it would give you a deeper insight into Hetty! The ending has been left open for a sequel.
July 4, 2022
This is another book of the Hetty Feather series, and I also LOVED this book. But, this is told by a little girl called Diamond, and written by Hetty Feather, while Diamond is talking. ( I hope that makes sense. ), but I absolutely loved this. This was an entirely different story to Hetty Feather's, but the fact that they meet each other.
February 12, 2019
This re-read disappointed me. Quite honestly. I know I’m growing up, I can no longer appreciate children’s books and my definition for easy-read is shifting. It’s not that the writing is bad, far from it, it still holds that traditional Jacqueline Wilson style. It is smooth and easy and charming. Unfortunately some of this sticks out the wrong way. I’d already noticed as a kid how repetitive some of her fancies are - food descriptions in particular, and it stands out garishly now. The characters all follow a general schema. I haven’t read Jacqueline Wilson in a while, but it still stood out to me. Some of the writing was also a bit cheesy and predictable. I don’t know, it didn’t draw me in as it used to.
Before I begin this review; I’d like to mention that the Hetty Feather series is one of my all-time favourites. I read the first book over and over (I even started translating it into another language at one point because I wanted to spend more time with it), and the christmas on which I received the three sequel novels was one of the best ones I’ve ever had. I love historical fiction, and I adore Jacqueline Wilson's stories. This one did not impress me, but I’d still recommend it for anyone enjoying the series so far.
-The Setting
The circus environment bothered me. Now, I’m no expert in circuses, much less victorian ones, and I’m sure she’s done her research. In fact, a lot of media glorifies the circus, and it’s pleasant to see someone break the mold (not that I have consumed a lot of carnival-themed books (not until recently anyway), but I’m aware of the trend; and I like it when you can glean that the author isn’t clueless). However, some of it felt terribly melancholy, as well as unrealistic. This is a travelling circus, yes? From what I gather, they never stay even up to a week in one location. This means relationships outside the circus are difficult. This is further reinforced by the fact that when Hetty and Jem pop up on Addie’s doorstep, they are immediately called out as trespassers, and even after (Hetty) was declared a friend, people (namely Beppo) remained suspicious. All this tells me that all friend- and relationships happen within the confines of the circus. But you see and feel very little of this. Most of the circus folk are glossed over and we never get to know any of them very well. There’s mention of the Elephant Keeper, I think Bruno keeps the bears, someone is in charge of the lions and the sea lions. Flora gets to say a couple of lines, Chino, we are told, exists. The characters that do get some spotlight - The Silver Boys, Mr. Marvel, Mister and Madame Adeline - usually appear alone, interacting in a one-to-one with Diamond. It seems as though there is no bond between these people at all. The only scene that I can recall, in which there was a group of people enjoying time together, was when Diamond was new at the circus, and they were sharing a meal. But even then it was reduced to a few laughs, focused on Diamond discovering the horse-meat in the stew. I’m not even entirely sure anyone besides the Silver Boys and Adeline were in it. All this made the Circus environment very dreary, lonely, and a bit off. As said, I understand that Jacqueline was not wanting to glorify the circus, but I am fairly certain she could have conveyed that _and_ showed some camaraderie. Everything feels wrong and unclear, making it difficult for me to take everyone seriously.
-Characters
Alright, there is no sociable group. So what about the characters? Are the many one-to-one’s interesting? Hmm. Most of them, I think, worked well, but the ones that were good were underdeveloped. I suppose this _is_ a Hetty Feather book, so the focus is on her and Madame Adeline, but we get this from Diamond’s perspective (more on that in a bit), so I’d expect at least some variety.
Silver Boys
These must’ve been one of my favourites. Tag followed one of those Jacqueline Wilson stereotypes, but I enjoyed his involvement in Diamonds life. Marvo too; he seemed like this good, benevolent figure, and helped combat the timeless-placeless melancholy of the circus. Julip was terribly executed (every single line he says seems to clearly state how much he hates being an acrobat, to the point where it is almost comical), but the thought behind him intrigues me.
My complaint here is that there isn’t enough of them, especially Tag. He’s the one person who is Diamond’s age, who has gone through the same thing she has. I understand that he’s a boy and that he holds a certain grudge against her, but that would’ve made him _especially_ interesting. Maybe let us get to know him? The brief glimpse we get into his past life was nice. A bit development on Julip would’ve made me excited to meet him again in future books. Frustrating, but I digress.
Mister/Beppo
I’m actually fine with this one. He was efficient and determined and cruel, played his role quite well. The brief background we get on him works in the favour of making him a dark and scary figure.
Mr. Marvel
Again, no complaints here. His help with the somersault was a nice touch. I find him hard to evaluate, as I’ve read this book a couple of times in the past, the fact that his monkeys are too small and difficult to see from the back seats has been branded into my mind. I had to gloss over the Jacqueline Wilson-trademark descriptions of the little monkey performances, because everything in my head was screaming _but no one can’t see them!!_
Madame Adeline
I couldn’t quite get to like her. It felt like the author was trying to tone her down abit, but that hardly needed doing. Since Hetty met her for the second time in the first book, I was quite unimpressed by her. Back then she was described as a let down, not staying true to Hetty’s wild fantasies. In this book, it is reinforced over and over that she is old, unfit and sad. I thought, since we are getting this from Diamond’s perspective, that this oldness might go unnoticed - she’d simply be looking up to this motherly figure, wanting protection (that would’ve made Addie’s dismissal a lot more impactful, since Diamond should not have been expecting it.). But we got her age beaten into our faces again and again. I grew sick of it. There was no clinging onto Addie for support in this dreary circus. She was clearly not meant to last.
On the other hand, it’s nice that she seemed to be a person with history. She came across as directionless and lonely, with no place to go when she was dismissed, even though she knew that she wouldn’t be able to stay on (I think her hope was that she’d die before she was forced to go). This suggests that she is incredibly dependant on the circus, despite her unhappy state. She clearly wasn’t friends with any of the current circus people, besides Hetty and Diamond, and perhaps Flora. It is implied that she was friendly with Mr. Tanglefields father. What caused her to end up that way? When Hetty turned up, she immediately clung to her, despite hardly knowing her, as though she were starved of positive-human-contact.
In all, she’s an interesting character, but she isn’t likeable. She didn’t brighten up the story, rather pulling it down further into the dark, dreary abyss.
(I’ll mention Hetty in the Perspective section.)
-Mood
Personally, this book lacked highs and lows. I never felt much joy while reading. Diamond was happy for her dress, but it’s never mentioned again, and seems superfluous. Hetty is happy for her boots...okay. They get to rest over christmas...that’s nice? The only thing I felt excited for, was when Diamond learned a new trick, and the performance was described as going well. Perhaps this is all intentional - Diamond is meant to be unhappy though - but if that it so, it doesn’t make for a very good read. She’s still a child after all, and children have a knack of finding pockets of joy wherever they are. As there were no joyful moments, the sad ones didn’t have a lot of impact either. I wasn’t sorry to see Addie or Marvel go - in fact, I was rather looking forward to the moment, as the endless descriptions of their advancing age were starting to get to me, and I wanted Hetty and Diamond to get over it quick. Diamond’s beatings did leave me a bit fearful, but I found other people’s reactions a bit odd. We only ever get to see Hetty and Addie protest or feeling uncomfortable at the prospect of our protagonist being punished. No one really steps in and says it’s alright (the reason I’m bringing this up is because I’m assuming it’s meant to come across as something normal, something that just happens. Since we only get to hear the thoughts of people who care for Diamond, it seems as though Mister is this irrational evil). This lack of acceptance made the beating seem more like this unjust action by Mister only, like a villain that should be defeated, rather than a society and environment that accept and even encourages punishment as a means to an end (I admit that the Silver Boys do convey this feeling; but since they are children, and grew up under Beppo’s charge, their opinion seems a bit biased).
The climax felt artificial. I was down with Diamond’s injury and the threat of a beating; that actually worked pretty well, but the escape was pathetically played up. Everyone essentially comes together to help Hetty and Diamond run away. It feels very forced. We are told how the dog-people get their dogs to attack Mr. Tanglefield, and how Marvo tackles Mister as the latter pursuits our heroins. A lot of the detail is heavy on the intense nature of the scene (how can Diamond, who is tired and also seems to have gotten a concussion, register this in the complete darkness?), and events played off in a cartoonish way. The fall and the threat of beating were climax enough, I think, the escape was unnecessarily played up.
-The Perspective
As I’ve repeatedly mentioned, the perspective isn’t used effectively. I did like seeing Hetty from someone other than her own view; but somehow, we get very little of that. We are always caught on on Hetty’s thoughts and feelings. She’s feeling inadequate, she’s missing Jem, she thinks this, she thinks that. I’d have loved it if the narrative had focused on Diamond more - her life, and the way _she_ sees Hetty. As Hetty is a big part in Diamond’s life, she’d still come up plenty - but not as blatantly, not as shamelessly.
I liked Polly’s little pop-in; I love meeting old characters again. However, this scene is for Hetty, not Diamond. Diamond only witnesses it, because Polly just so happens to ask her in particular who the ringmaster is. I loved the way Polly appeared to make Hetty feel though.
Some bits are done fairly well. Diamond says Hetty goes on a lot of walks during the christmas break, that she seems restless, and it implies a great deal to the reader, as we know more of her origins than Diamond does. I like these moments, and they show how effectively the book could have used this new perspective without leaving out Hetty’s story.
I also enjoyed Mary-Martha coming to visit. It gave us a present piece of Diamond’s family, and I admit I was taken by how little Mary-Martha cared for her sister. It helped me settle into Diamond’s head and feel her pain, how naturally she would be guided to Hetty and Addie.
Overall
I’d like to reinforce that I don’t mind sad books. I don’t mind books that deal with violence and abuse. This book isn’t sad though. It’s a grey wall. It speaks in a monotone language. If it’s always raining then the rain becomes normal. This could’ve been great. It could’ve given us a new, exciting character, who perhaps, as a child, doesn’t have much personality, but could instead allow us to discover this victorian circus-world, new, three dimensional characters*, all while keeping a close tie to Hetty and her wanderings. It’s lamentable.
I don’t want to bash this completely though. I read this first when I was eleven; and I suppose a couple times since then. It was never particularly memorable, but I didn’t dislike it either (the book which really disappointed me was Little Stars...oh dear…). It’s certainly a good effort at a sequel novel to the series; mixing things up a bit; and perhaps, in the larger picture, it signifies a sort of infancy, the childhood dream Hetty was pursuing when she decided to join the circus.
I’m in the process of re-reading Little Stars (hoping it manages to redeem itself, rather than sink further in my esteem like this one); and now that I’ve picked this book apart so thoroughly (I don’t tend to write reviews), I’m actually gathering new hope that there’ll be a sixth book published, and that it’ll be as good as I remember the original three.
*Do you think I’m excited to meet Tag, Julip or Lucky Heather in the following installments? To discover how Addie and Marvel are settling? I’m not. I wish I was. They were pushed so far in the background that I find it hard to care.
Before I begin this review; I’d like to mention that the Hetty Feather series is one of my all-time favourites. I read the first book over and over (I even started translating it into another language at one point because I wanted to spend more time with it), and the christmas on which I received the three sequel novels was one of the best ones I’ve ever had. I love historical fiction, and I adore Jacqueline Wilson's stories. This one did not impress me, but I’d still recommend it for anyone enjoying the series so far.
-The Setting
The circus environment bothered me. Now, I’m no expert in circuses, much less victorian ones, and I’m sure she’s done her research. In fact, a lot of media glorifies the circus, and it’s pleasant to see someone break the mold (not that I have consumed a lot of carnival-themed books (not until recently anyway), but I’m aware of the trend; and I like it when you can glean that the author isn’t clueless). However, some of it felt terribly melancholy, as well as unrealistic. This is a travelling circus, yes? From what I gather, they never stay even up to a week in one location. This means relationships outside the circus are difficult. This is further reinforced by the fact that when Hetty and Jem pop up on Addie’s doorstep, they are immediately called out as trespassers, and even after (Hetty) was declared a friend, people (namely Beppo) remained suspicious. All this tells me that all friend- and relationships happen within the confines of the circus. But you see and feel very little of this. Most of the circus folk are glossed over and we never get to know any of them very well. There’s mention of the Elephant Keeper, I think Bruno keeps the bears, someone is in charge of the lions and the sea lions. Flora gets to say a couple of lines, Chino, we are told, exists. The characters that do get some spotlight - The Silver Boys, Mr. Marvel, Mister and Madame Adeline - usually appear alone, interacting in a one-to-one with Diamond. It seems as though there is no bond between these people at all. The only scene that I can recall, in which there was a group of people enjoying time together, was when Diamond was new at the circus, and they were sharing a meal. But even then it was reduced to a few laughs, focused on Diamond discovering the horse-meat in the stew. I’m not even entirely sure anyone besides the Silver Boys and Adeline were in it. All this made the Circus environment very dreary, lonely, and a bit off. As said, I understand that Jacqueline was not wanting to glorify the circus, but I am fairly certain she could have conveyed that _and_ showed some camaraderie. Everything feels wrong and unclear, making it difficult for me to take everyone seriously.
-Characters
Alright, there is no sociable group. So what about the characters? Are the many one-to-one’s interesting? Hmm. Most of them, I think, worked well, but the ones that were good were underdeveloped. I suppose this _is_ a Hetty Feather book, so the focus is on her and Madame Adeline, but we get this from Diamond’s perspective (more on that in a bit), so I’d expect at least some variety.
Silver Boys
These must’ve been one of my favourites. Tag followed one of those Jacqueline Wilson stereotypes, but I enjoyed his involvement in Diamonds life. Marvo too; he seemed like this good, benevolent figure, and helped combat the timeless-placeless melancholy of the circus. Julip was terribly executed (every single line he says seems to clearly state how much he hates being an acrobat, to the point where it is almost comical), but the thought behind him intrigues me.
My complaint here is that there isn’t enough of them, especially Tag. He’s the one person who is Diamond’s age, who has gone through the same thing she has. I understand that he’s a boy and that he holds a certain grudge against her, but that would’ve made him _especially_ interesting. Maybe let us get to know him? The brief glimpse we get into his past life was nice. A bit development on Julip would’ve made me excited to meet him again in future books. Frustrating, but I digress.
Mister/Beppo
I’m actually fine with this one. He was efficient and determined and cruel, played his role quite well. The brief background we get on him works in the favour of making him a dark and scary figure.
Mr. Marvel
Again, no complaints here. His help with the somersault was a nice touch. I find him hard to evaluate, as I’ve read this book a couple of times in the past, the fact that his monkeys are too small and difficult to see from the back seats has been branded into my mind. I had to gloss over the Jacqueline Wilson-trademark descriptions of the little monkey performances, because everything in my head was screaming _but no one can’t see them!!_
Madame Adeline
I couldn’t quite get to like her. It felt like the author was trying to tone her down abit, but that hardly needed doing. Since Hetty met her for the second time in the first book, I was quite unimpressed by her. Back then she was described as a let down, not staying true to Hetty’s wild fantasies. In this book, it is reinforced over and over that she is old, unfit and sad. I thought, since we are getting this from Diamond’s perspective, that this oldness might go unnoticed - she’d simply be looking up to this motherly figure, wanting protection (that would’ve made Addie’s dismissal a lot more impactful, since Diamond should not have been expecting it.). But we got her age beaten into our faces again and again. I grew sick of it. There was no clinging onto Addie for support in this dreary circus. She was clearly not meant to last.
On the other hand, it’s nice that she seemed to be a person with history. She came across as directionless and lonely, with no place to go when she was dismissed, even though she knew that she wouldn’t be able to stay on (I think her hope was that she’d die before she was forced to go). This suggests that she is incredibly dependant on the circus, despite her unhappy state. She clearly wasn’t friends with any of the current circus people, besides Hetty and Diamond, and perhaps Flora. It is implied that she was friendly with Mr. Tanglefields father. What caused her to end up that way? When Hetty turned up, she immediately clung to her, despite hardly knowing her, as though she were starved of positive-human-contact.
In all, she’s an interesting character, but she isn’t likeable. She didn’t brighten up the story, rather pulling it down further into the dark, dreary abyss.
(I’ll mention Hetty in the Perspective section.)
-Mood
Personally, this book lacked highs and lows. I never felt much joy while reading. Diamond was happy for her dress, but it’s never mentioned again, and seems superfluous. Hetty is happy for her boots...okay. They get to rest over christmas...that’s nice? The only thing I felt excited for, was when Diamond learned a new trick, and the performance was described as going well. Perhaps this is all intentional - Diamond is meant to be unhappy though - but if that it so, it doesn’t make for a very good read. She’s still a child after all, and children have a knack of finding pockets of joy wherever they are. As there were no joyful moments, the sad ones didn’t have a lot of impact either. I wasn’t sorry to see Addie or Marvel go - in fact, I was rather looking forward to the moment, as the endless descriptions of their advancing age were starting to get to me, and I wanted Hetty and Diamond to get over it quick. Diamond’s beatings did leave me a bit fearful, but I found other people’s reactions a bit odd. We only ever get to see Hetty and Addie protest or feeling uncomfortable at the prospect of our protagonist being punished. No one really steps in and says it’s alright (the reason I’m bringing this up is because I’m assuming it’s meant to come across as something normal, something that just happens. Since we only get to hear the thoughts of people who care for Diamond, it seems as though Mister is this irrational evil). This lack of acceptance made the beating seem more like this unjust action by Mister only, like a villain that should be defeated, rather than a society and environment that accept and even encourages punishment as a means to an end (I admit that the Silver Boys do convey this feeling; but since they are children, and grew up under Beppo’s charge, their opinion seems a bit biased).
The climax felt artificial. I was down with Diamond’s injury and the threat of a beating; that actually worked pretty well, but the escape was pathetically played up. Everyone essentially comes together to help Hetty and Diamond run away. It feels very forced. We are told how the dog-people get their dogs to attack Mr. Tanglefield, and how Marvo tackles Mister as the latter pursuits our heroins. A lot of the detail is heavy on the intense nature of the scene (how can Diamond, who is tired and also seems to have gotten a concussion, register this in the complete darkness?), and events played off in a cartoonish way. The fall and the threat of beating were climax enough, I think, the escape was unnecessarily played up.
-The Perspective
As I’ve repeatedly mentioned, the perspective isn’t used effectively. I did like seeing Hetty from someone other than her own view; but somehow, we get very little of that. We are always caught on on Hetty’s thoughts and feelings. She’s feeling inadequate, she’s missing Jem, she thinks this, she thinks that. I’d have loved it if the narrative had focused on Diamond more - her life, and the way _she_ sees Hetty. As Hetty is a big part in Diamond’s life, she’d still come up plenty - but not as blatantly, not as shamelessly.
I liked Polly’s little pop-in; I love meeting old characters again. However, this scene is for Hetty, not Diamond. Diamond only witnesses it, because Polly just so happens to ask her in particular who the ringmaster is. I loved the way Polly appeared to make Hetty feel though.
Some bits are done fairly well. Diamond says Hetty goes on a lot of walks during the christmas break, that she seems restless, and it implies a great deal to the reader, as we know more of her origins than Diamond does. I like these moments, and they show how effectively the book could have used this new perspective without leaving out Hetty’s story.
I also enjoyed Mary-Martha coming to visit. It gave us a present piece of Diamond’s family, and I admit I was taken by how little Mary-Martha cared for her sister. It helped me settle into Diamond’s head and feel her pain, how naturally she would be guided to Hetty and Addie.
Overall
I’d like to reinforce that I don’t mind sad books. I don’t mind books that deal with violence and abuse. This book isn’t sad though. It’s a grey wall. It speaks in a monotone language. If it’s always raining then the rain becomes normal. This could’ve been great. It could’ve given us a new, exciting character, who perhaps, as a child, doesn’t have much personality, but could instead allow us to discover this victorian circus-world, new, three dimensional characters*, all while keeping a close tie to Hetty and her wanderings. It’s lamentable.
I don’t want to bash this completely though. I read this first when I was eleven; and I suppose a couple times since then. It was never particularly memorable, but I didn’t dislike it either (the book which really disappointed me was Little Stars...oh dear…). It’s certainly a good effort at a sequel novel to the series; mixing things up a bit; and perhaps, in the larger picture, it signifies a sort of infancy, the childhood dream Hetty was pursuing when she decided to join the circus.
I’m in the process of re-reading Little Stars (hoping it manages to redeem itself, rather than sink further in my esteem like this one); and now that I’ve picked this book apart so thoroughly (I don’t tend to write reviews), I’m actually gathering new hope that there’ll be a sixth book published, and that it’ll be as good as I remember the original three.
*Do you think I’m excited to meet Tag, Julip or Lucky Heather in the following installments? To discover how Addie and Marvel are settling? I’m not. I wish I was. They were pushed so far in the background that I find it hard to care.
September 18, 2014
The most recent addition to the Victorian-set Hetty Feather series, Diamond is not mainly about Hetty herself this time but her new friend, the ‘acrobatic child wonder’ Diamond Star. Born into a poor family and something of a disappointment to her mother who had longed for another boy, Ellen-Jane Potts (soon to become the circus performer Diamond Star) had a difficult start to life. When her mother died in childbirth, trying again for the much sought-after baby boy, Ellen-Jane was shunned by her father, and as the family were very poor she began to use her gift for acrobatics to perform tricks in the market place to make some money to feed herself, her sister and baby brother…Until one day the cruel Mister Beppo, a circus performer and manager of an acrobatic act, spotted her and offered her Pa five guineas to take her away with him to the circus. Ellen-Jane did not want to go, but her Pa accepted Beppo’s offer and so began her new life as the circus performer Diamond Star. At the circus, Diamond’s troubles were far from over: Beppo was a cruel master who trained her to near exhaustion, forced her to perform dangerous tricks and threatened her with beatings if she refused. Yet, it was not all misery and it was also here that Diamond met her dear friends Madame Adeline and of course Hetty Feather with whom she spent some of her happiest moments.
It is perhaps this message about the power of friendship and kindness in helping one face awful situations, and the chance for happiness where you least expect it, that I like most about this book. I loved the silver cover and the illustrations of the various circus performers and other characters at the beginning of each chapter. I also found the plot engaging and this book was difficult to leave aside. However I found the ending weak and unsatisfying, and this is what I liked least about the story. The idea of having such an inconclusive ending was no doubt to allow space for a sequel, but I still think it could have been better. Indeed perhaps one of the questions children who have read the book could be asked would be how they would finish the story, while still leaving it open for another episode. Apart from this, the other most obvious curriculum link would be to primary history and the discussion of how children in Victorian times were treated; certain episodes in the book could also be used as a basis lead into a discussion of issues of poverty and cruelty to children. All in all, I would say that this is a good book for independent reading that children in the later years of KS2 would enjoy.
It is perhaps this message about the power of friendship and kindness in helping one face awful situations, and the chance for happiness where you least expect it, that I like most about this book. I loved the silver cover and the illustrations of the various circus performers and other characters at the beginning of each chapter. I also found the plot engaging and this book was difficult to leave aside. However I found the ending weak and unsatisfying, and this is what I liked least about the story. The idea of having such an inconclusive ending was no doubt to allow space for a sequel, but I still think it could have been better. Indeed perhaps one of the questions children who have read the book could be asked would be how they would finish the story, while still leaving it open for another episode. Apart from this, the other most obvious curriculum link would be to primary history and the discussion of how children in Victorian times were treated; certain episodes in the book could also be used as a basis lead into a discussion of issues of poverty and cruelty to children. All in all, I would say that this is a good book for independent reading that children in the later years of KS2 would enjoy.
May 20, 2023
This is basically my childhood book. I remember picking this up from the school library, then obsessing over it for the next couple of weeks after reading it. Of course I was still a kid back then (we're talking like, 12 or 13 years old when I read this), and I truly believed with all my heart that this was the best book to ever grace this earth. Hence why I am giving it 5 stars now, even though I barely remember much of the story, but I will not let my inner child be upset or think that I forgot this book for a fraction of a second.
Jacqueline Wilson was actually my favorite author at the time, and I think I read a lot of her books, but it's only this one that I remember vividly reading and enjoying tremendously.
Jacqueline Wilson was actually my favorite author at the time, and I think I read a lot of her books, but it's only this one that I remember vividly reading and enjoying tremendously.
November 1, 2014
I read this last book out of order, so it was a little abrupt at the beginning, but I quickly filled in the blanks. This story is one that Hetty has written about a young girl called Diamond and her life. Diamond is actually Ellen-Jane Potts, the 5th child in a family that had a Matthew, Mark, Luke and was looking for a "John." There was another daughter called Mary Martha, but Ellen-Jane was definitely a disappointment. Ellen-Jane was different from the rest of the family. She was blond and tiny like her mother and the rest were all dark and sturdy like their father. She was also "bendy." She could do back bends, crab walks, walk on her hands and other gymnastic feats as soon as she could toddle about. Unfortunately, life didn't go well for Ellen-Jane and eventually her father sold her to the Tanglewood circus where she lived a brutal life under her owner, "Beppo, the clown." Beppo once was an acrobat until he fell and broke his back. His sons still were acrobats and he was brutal with them and "Diamond."
Hetty and Diamond's lives come together at the Tanglewood circus where Hetty fulfills a dream of becoming a circus performer. In the first book, Adeline, the stunning horse rider, tells Hetty that the circus life is brutal, but she has to learn herself. This book again reveals the lives of poor children of the Victorian era when a child could be sold and mistreated. Hetty and Diamond find some kindness in the circus, but they, along with the other children of the troupe are exploited.
The only reason I gave this three stars is the abrupt ending. While this is part of a series, I think the author could have made the book resolve in a satisfying way and yet still leave room for the sequel.
Hetty and Diamond's lives come together at the Tanglewood circus where Hetty fulfills a dream of becoming a circus performer. In the first book, Adeline, the stunning horse rider, tells Hetty that the circus life is brutal, but she has to learn herself. This book again reveals the lives of poor children of the Victorian era when a child could be sold and mistreated. Hetty and Diamond find some kindness in the circus, but they, along with the other children of the troupe are exploited.
The only reason I gave this three stars is the abrupt ending. While this is part of a series, I think the author could have made the book resolve in a satisfying way and yet still leave room for the sequel.
September 16, 2013
(I received this book for free as part of Goodreads First Reads giveaways).
(This review may contain spoilers).
It was fairly interesting to return to the world of Hetty Feather, though both that book and this one are a bit too abusive for my tastes... even more so when it comes to children's books.
There's quite a lot of cruelty in this book, which I wasn't particularly fond of. There weren't very many funny moments in it, though I did like a lot of the supporting characters, particularly those in the circus. I was also really amused by the little monkeys - I could see them performing really well inside my mind.
Bebbo/Mister was a perfectly horrible character. I think his personality outside the ring contrasted starkly with his personality in the ring. Generally speaking, clowns are considered as funny, not cruel... but outside the ring, he was an awful person.
It was interesting to see Hetty Feather through the eyes of Diamond, though I wasn't really sure how old Hetty was supposed to be. I also wasn't sure of Diamond's age by the end of the book - it wasn't clear how much time passed while Diamond was at the circus.
It was nice to see Jem in the book, as well as Polly. I did like Marvo, Julip and even Tag as well. I would like to see more of them in a sequel.
There was an instance in the book where the wrong name was used. It threw me out of the story for a second, but it wasn't anything too major.
I did find this book to be an enjoyable, fairly quick read. I would definitely read more books by this author, but I think I prefer the older ones to the ones she writes now.
(This review may contain spoilers).
It was fairly interesting to return to the world of Hetty Feather, though both that book and this one are a bit too abusive for my tastes... even more so when it comes to children's books.
There's quite a lot of cruelty in this book, which I wasn't particularly fond of. There weren't very many funny moments in it, though I did like a lot of the supporting characters, particularly those in the circus. I was also really amused by the little monkeys - I could see them performing really well inside my mind.
Bebbo/Mister was a perfectly horrible character. I think his personality outside the ring contrasted starkly with his personality in the ring. Generally speaking, clowns are considered as funny, not cruel... but outside the ring, he was an awful person.
It was interesting to see Hetty Feather through the eyes of Diamond, though I wasn't really sure how old Hetty was supposed to be. I also wasn't sure of Diamond's age by the end of the book - it wasn't clear how much time passed while Diamond was at the circus.
It was nice to see Jem in the book, as well as Polly. I did like Marvo, Julip and even Tag as well. I would like to see more of them in a sequel.
There was an instance in the book where the wrong name was used. It threw me out of the story for a second, but it wasn't anything too major.
I did find this book to be an enjoyable, fairly quick read. I would definitely read more books by this author, but I think I prefer the older ones to the ones she writes now.
April 14, 2014
Hetty Feather returns in Diamond, Jacqueline Wilson’s fourth book in the Victorian-set series. Well, Hetty Feather sort of returns. You have to wait for half the book but she finally shows up on page 156.
In Hetty’s place we have Diamond, originally named the slightly less sparkly Ellen-Jane Potts. After a fair amount of the misery at home that Jaqueline Wilson writes so lightly yet so sensitively Diamond the acrobatic child wonder is sold to the circus where drama and tumble turns await.
Diamond is much less feisty and brave than Hetty, but the contrast comes as something of a relief as two characters as strong as Hetty Feather would have been exhausting if they appeared on the page together. Instead readers will easily identify with Diamond – a little more shy, a little nervous, and desperate to be best friends with Hetty.
Fans of Jacqueline Wilson will adore this. The story crosses over with the third book in the series, Emerald Star, and readers familiar with that story will delight in the tale being told from a different perspective.
Non-fans of Jacqueline Wilson are unlikely to change their minds. All of the usual suspects are here, including the dysfunctional families, some surprisingly strong violence, but an overarching message of the redeeming power of love and friendship.
With the strong female characters and the always brilliant (though sadly few in number) illustrations by Nick Sharratt, not to mention the sparkly silver cover, this is the perfect gift for girls. And there’s probably enough circus monkeys and acrobatic drama for their brothers to secretly enjoy it too. Not sure how they’ll feel about the sparkles though.
In Hetty’s place we have Diamond, originally named the slightly less sparkly Ellen-Jane Potts. After a fair amount of the misery at home that Jaqueline Wilson writes so lightly yet so sensitively Diamond the acrobatic child wonder is sold to the circus where drama and tumble turns await.
Diamond is much less feisty and brave than Hetty, but the contrast comes as something of a relief as two characters as strong as Hetty Feather would have been exhausting if they appeared on the page together. Instead readers will easily identify with Diamond – a little more shy, a little nervous, and desperate to be best friends with Hetty.
Fans of Jacqueline Wilson will adore this. The story crosses over with the third book in the series, Emerald Star, and readers familiar with that story will delight in the tale being told from a different perspective.
Non-fans of Jacqueline Wilson are unlikely to change their minds. All of the usual suspects are here, including the dysfunctional families, some surprisingly strong violence, but an overarching message of the redeeming power of love and friendship.
With the strong female characters and the always brilliant (though sadly few in number) illustrations by Nick Sharratt, not to mention the sparkly silver cover, this is the perfect gift for girls. And there’s probably enough circus monkeys and acrobatic drama for their brothers to secretly enjoy it too. Not sure how they’ll feel about the sparkles though.
Read
June 5, 2015I think that this book is very good and interesting. This book is about a girl called Ellen-Jane, but later she is called Diamond. Diamond had 3 older brothers and an older sister named after the people in the bible and her mom wanted the final boy from the list of names, but she had Diamond instead. Eventually Diamond's mom had the son she wanted but she died. Diamond's dad grows mean and depressed and makes all 3 oldest sons go away for jobs, and keeps her older sister home with the baby. At this time he hates Diamond because she looks so much like the mom. They start running out of money so Diamond starts secretly doing acrobatics in public and earns money that way. Later, a mean old man named Beppo or Mister who runs a circus act, comes and tries to take her away. Her dad comes along and sells Diamond to Beppo. Diamond becomes a circus girl and has to work very hard. Later on when she is performing, a girl from another one of Jaqueline Wilsons's books, a girl called 'Hetty Feather' comes in, and becomes part of the circus. You follow Diamond in all her acrobatics and the skills she learns and eventually she runs away with Hetty Feather. That is where the book ends.
My favorite part was when Diamond's Older sister Mary-Martha and her baby brother John come and visit her. I like it how they are happy to see each other and how they talk about how things are back at their home.
My least favorite part was when Hetty got upset because Madame Adeline was replaced with new horse riders who are actually very nice. She gets mad at Diamond for liking them and she starts to get scared because Hetty isn't caring for her anymore.
I recommend this book to kids aged 7-13
My favorite part was when Diamond's Older sister Mary-Martha and her baby brother John come and visit her. I like it how they are happy to see each other and how they talk about how things are back at their home.
My least favorite part was when Hetty got upset because Madame Adeline was replaced with new horse riders who are actually very nice. She gets mad at Diamond for liking them and she starts to get scared because Hetty isn't caring for her anymore.
I recommend this book to kids aged 7-13
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2016
Jacqueline Wilson has given all of the Hetty Feather fans something totally new with Diamond: the little circus acrobat we met in Emerald Star.
This fantastic story, being the fourth in the Hetty Feather series, unfolds the life of Diamond, or Ellen-Jane Potts with her hard and dangerous life before and in the circus in the Victorian times. She is unwelcome as a baby, and her family falls apart. Not wanted by the people she loves most, Ellen-Jane has to become an act in Tanglefield's Traveling Circus. She experiences so much hardship that you learn that her life isn't just about being a sparkling fairy who flies and flips around on stage in the bid top.
I love Diamond because it is so realistic; going to the circus is fun, but that is one necessarily how you would describe life behind the ring and out into training. And the fact that Diamond is so young and has no choice about what she can do makes you see things from another's point of view.
But it is so enjoyable to read this book and I don't think anyone could ever get sick of it. Diamond has such an amazing story, and it's a wonder where Jacqueline Wilson gets all of her ideas from! Boring would be a word forgotten from your brain while reading Diamond. You would be bubbling up with excitement and nerve - just the feelings that Diamond has before she is about to perform.
Diamond is the same but different from its three previous books, giving Hetty's life a broader background with the circus. I think that everybody would be sure to love this book without a doubt.
This fantastic story, being the fourth in the Hetty Feather series, unfolds the life of Diamond, or Ellen-Jane Potts with her hard and dangerous life before and in the circus in the Victorian times. She is unwelcome as a baby, and her family falls apart. Not wanted by the people she loves most, Ellen-Jane has to become an act in Tanglefield's Traveling Circus. She experiences so much hardship that you learn that her life isn't just about being a sparkling fairy who flies and flips around on stage in the bid top.
I love Diamond because it is so realistic; going to the circus is fun, but that is one necessarily how you would describe life behind the ring and out into training. And the fact that Diamond is so young and has no choice about what she can do makes you see things from another's point of view.
But it is so enjoyable to read this book and I don't think anyone could ever get sick of it. Diamond has such an amazing story, and it's a wonder where Jacqueline Wilson gets all of her ideas from! Boring would be a word forgotten from your brain while reading Diamond. You would be bubbling up with excitement and nerve - just the feelings that Diamond has before she is about to perform.
Diamond is the same but different from its three previous books, giving Hetty's life a broader background with the circus. I think that everybody would be sure to love this book without a doubt.
June 19, 2017
I love this book! I usually ignore these kinds of books, Shiny cover, and a author that has a thousand books!
I was given this book for my birthday, but I thought it was to childish, so I just shoved it behind all my books, and hoped to forget about it. Two years after, I finished a bunch of books, and I was looking forwards to something different. I started searching in my bookshelf, and there it was. I'm usually very picky with books, but that day I just didn't care.
I started reading it and I got very entertained. A skinny girl, with only her Sister and a little of her Mother who cared about her. Very sad, I wasn't expecting something like this, so I kept on reading. Her fathers really evil, but I'm sure he regrets it. Being forced to go on a circus that gives you too much scars and bruises, not so good. I'm Glad a girl came to help. I was surprised by how small 'Diamond' was, compared to Hetty. I wish that before she left, she would have stayed a little more with Tag ;)
After this book I started reading this book, I continued reading books from Jacqueline Wilson.
A book I definitely recommend is My Sister Jodie. I've read some other books but they have similar looking characters, but I still love the stories
I was given this book for my birthday, but I thought it was to childish, so I just shoved it behind all my books, and hoped to forget about it. Two years after, I finished a bunch of books, and I was looking forwards to something different. I started searching in my bookshelf, and there it was. I'm usually very picky with books, but that day I just didn't care.
I started reading it and I got very entertained. A skinny girl, with only her Sister and a little of her Mother who cared about her. Very sad, I wasn't expecting something like this, so I kept on reading. Her fathers really evil, but I'm sure he regrets it. Being forced to go on a circus that gives you too much scars and bruises, not so good. I'm Glad a girl came to help. I was surprised by how small 'Diamond' was, compared to Hetty. I wish that before she left, she would have stayed a little more with Tag ;)
After this book I started reading this book, I continued reading books from Jacqueline Wilson.
A book I definitely recommend is My Sister Jodie. I've read some other books but they have similar looking characters, but I still love the stories
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2023
How is it that Dame Jacqueline Wilson can write about the most devastating things happening to children and I still eat it up and find it enjoyable? I'm not sure, but this has definitely been the case with this book.
Running away to the circus and then running away from it, what neat little bookends in Hetty's otherwise rather messy life... I adored the shift in POV for this instalment and the very meta bits about Hetty's memoirs: 'I think maybe three great fat volumes are enough -- for the moment, anyway. It is your turn now, Diamond.'
I loved the three dear silver brothers, of course, whether or not it was because they reminded me of my own darling daydream of the Brotherhood. I mean, lovely big Marvo and poor dear relatable Julip did, anyway. And scrappy young Tag... I've read and loved so many books about boys like him, I couldn't help loving him by the end, too. The characters are always among the strong points in every one of Jacqueline Wilson's books, so it's no surprise I always end up having favourites.
1000/5* for bright little Diamond's story.
Running away to the circus and then running away from it, what neat little bookends in Hetty's otherwise rather messy life... I adored the shift in POV for this instalment and the very meta bits about Hetty's memoirs: 'I think maybe three great fat volumes are enough -- for the moment, anyway. It is your turn now, Diamond.'
I loved the three dear silver brothers, of course, whether or not it was because they reminded me of my own darling daydream of the Brotherhood. I mean, lovely big Marvo and poor dear relatable Julip did, anyway. And scrappy young Tag... I've read and loved so many books about boys like him, I couldn't help loving him by the end, too. The characters are always among the strong points in every one of Jacqueline Wilson's books, so it's no surprise I always end up having favourites.
1000/5* for bright little Diamond's story.
February 22, 2017
Awesome!
July 22, 2014
In my opinion this is a great book that will appeal to many, it is one of many addictive books by Jacqueline Wilson. Diamond is a young girl that ends up in a circus but the events that happen from that point in the story are interesting. It intrigued me quite a lot as to whether this was based on true things that Jacqueline Wilson had experienced and seen herself, or whether it was just fictional entirely. The language used and events that appear are not very complicated and is easy to understand , this would help younger readers to follow events without confusion. It shows a friendship and demonstrates that having a friend can make life happier. I would say this is targeted at girls which is understandable. I really enjoyed it, so a follow up would be welcome!
April 12, 2022
I am 18 years old yet I still loved this book. I felt I could still relate to all of the characters and it was genuinely an exciting story. I love the Hetty Feather series and will definetely be reading the last book in the series when I can! Highly recommend, you're never too old to read Jacqueline Wilson books!
October 11, 2014
This book is very sad but shows that the girl(diamond) has courage
April 11, 2023
Hetty feather series>>>>
I remember my 14 year old self ignoring this book cos I thought it was too wordy but when I actually read I I regret not having done so sooner💀
I remember my 14 year old self ignoring this book cos I thought it was too wordy but when I actually read I I regret not having done so sooner💀
December 26, 2025
Jacqueline Wilson’s Diamond is a beautifully crafted, emotionally intelligent novel that shines with the warmth and honesty she’s so well known for. It’s a story that feels both imaginative and grounded, inviting you into a world of performance and spectacle while never losing sight of the very real emotions at its heart. Wilson writes with a clarity and tenderness that makes the book accessible to younger readers yet deeply resonant for adults, and the result is a narrative that lingers long after you’ve finished it.
What struck me most was the way Wilson captures the inner life of a child with such precision. Diamond’s voice feels authentic — full of hope, fear, curiosity and quiet determination. The pacing is gentle but purposeful, allowing the emotional moments to breathe without ever dragging. There’s a richness to the storytelling that makes the world feel lived‑in, and even the smallest details carry weight. It’s the kind of book that draws you in softly and then holds you there with its sincerity.
A particularly powerful thread running through the story is its subtle but meaningful commentary on animals in circuses. Without ever becoming preachy, the book highlights the uncomfortable truth that animals simply shouldn’t be used for entertainment. Circus life forces them into cramped, unnatural conditions, constant travel and repetitive training that prioritises spectacle over welfare. They’re denied the freedom to behave as they would in the wild, and the stress of performing for human amusement is at odds with their natural instincts. Wilson weaves this awareness into the narrative with sensitivity, encouraging readers to think about compassion, responsibility and the ethics of entertainment in a way that feels organic rather than forced.
I clicked with Diamond almost immediately. There’s something deeply relatable about her mixture of bravery and vulnerability. She’s resilient without being hardened, imaginative without being unrealistic, and sensitive in a way that makes her observations feel both poignant and true. She notices the small things — the gestures, the moods, the shifts in atmosphere — and that emotional intelligence makes her feel wonderfully real. Her imperfections make her even more endearing; you root for her not because she’s flawless, but because she’s human. Her voice is written with such authenticity that you can almost hear her speaking, and that connection is what makes the story so affecting.
In the end, Diamond is a tender, thoughtful and quietly powerful novel that blends emotional truth with storytelling charm. It invites empathy — for people and for animals — without ever feeling heavy‑handed. Jacqueline Wilson has created a character who shines not because her life is easy, but because she finds ways to keep dreaming, keep caring and keep going. It’s a book that leaves you with a fuller heart and a gentler outlook.
♥️✨️💎
What struck me most was the way Wilson captures the inner life of a child with such precision. Diamond’s voice feels authentic — full of hope, fear, curiosity and quiet determination. The pacing is gentle but purposeful, allowing the emotional moments to breathe without ever dragging. There’s a richness to the storytelling that makes the world feel lived‑in, and even the smallest details carry weight. It’s the kind of book that draws you in softly and then holds you there with its sincerity.
A particularly powerful thread running through the story is its subtle but meaningful commentary on animals in circuses. Without ever becoming preachy, the book highlights the uncomfortable truth that animals simply shouldn’t be used for entertainment. Circus life forces them into cramped, unnatural conditions, constant travel and repetitive training that prioritises spectacle over welfare. They’re denied the freedom to behave as they would in the wild, and the stress of performing for human amusement is at odds with their natural instincts. Wilson weaves this awareness into the narrative with sensitivity, encouraging readers to think about compassion, responsibility and the ethics of entertainment in a way that feels organic rather than forced.
I clicked with Diamond almost immediately. There’s something deeply relatable about her mixture of bravery and vulnerability. She’s resilient without being hardened, imaginative without being unrealistic, and sensitive in a way that makes her observations feel both poignant and true. She notices the small things — the gestures, the moods, the shifts in atmosphere — and that emotional intelligence makes her feel wonderfully real. Her imperfections make her even more endearing; you root for her not because she’s flawless, but because she’s human. Her voice is written with such authenticity that you can almost hear her speaking, and that connection is what makes the story so affecting.
In the end, Diamond is a tender, thoughtful and quietly powerful novel that blends emotional truth with storytelling charm. It invites empathy — for people and for animals — without ever feeling heavy‑handed. Jacqueline Wilson has created a character who shines not because her life is easy, but because she finds ways to keep dreaming, keep caring and keep going. It’s a book that leaves you with a fuller heart and a gentler outlook.
♥️✨️💎
October 23, 2022
The fourth instalment in the Hetty Feather series, following young Diamond who is sold by her father to become an acrobat at Tanglefield's Travelling Circus.
The first section of the book was heartbreaking; Diamond is a disappointment to her mother, and an insult to her father's eyesight. I find that the description of the protagonist's background always drags on longer than necessary in the other books of this series, but the family dynamics and Diamond's insecurity are well-written and I felt invested in her character.
Child neglect and abuse are featured heavily throughout. I found some of the scenes fairly disturbing for a children's book, but they are effective in cementing Beppo as a cruel master. A lot of the side characters had their own unique quirks but many suffered from having no other personality traits which made some of the interactions feel one-note. Hetty, of course, stands out the most and I enjoyed that she was heavily involved in the second half of the book, but not overbearingly so, and appeared more mature.
One of the few problems I have with this book is the escape scene at the end. It's a chaotic mess of Hetty and Diamond running away whilst other circus members stop Beppo and Mr Tanglefield from following them. I think it could have been a great scene, but it felt disjointed. I also wasn't a huge fan of the ending. The convenience of them noticing the poster for the music hall, which just so happens to have an act listed reminding Hetty of someone she knew, was obviously a way of hinting that another book would be written but it felt very forced.
That being said, I still really enjoyed reading this and thought it was a refreshing change of perspective.
The first section of the book was heartbreaking; Diamond is a disappointment to her mother, and an insult to her father's eyesight. I find that the description of the protagonist's background always drags on longer than necessary in the other books of this series, but the family dynamics and Diamond's insecurity are well-written and I felt invested in her character.
Child neglect and abuse are featured heavily throughout. I found some of the scenes fairly disturbing for a children's book, but they are effective in cementing Beppo as a cruel master. A lot of the side characters had their own unique quirks but many suffered from having no other personality traits which made some of the interactions feel one-note. Hetty, of course, stands out the most and I enjoyed that she was heavily involved in the second half of the book, but not overbearingly so, and appeared more mature.
One of the few problems I have with this book is the escape scene at the end. It's a chaotic mess of Hetty and Diamond running away whilst other circus members stop Beppo and Mr Tanglefield from following them. I think it could have been a great scene, but it felt disjointed. I also wasn't a huge fan of the ending. The convenience of them noticing the poster for the music hall, which just so happens to have an act listed reminding Hetty of someone she knew, was obviously a way of hinting that another book would be written but it felt very forced.
That being said, I still really enjoyed reading this and thought it was a refreshing change of perspective.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2023
So I got this as an audio book and soon got addicted to it however I'm tempted to only give in 3 stars for a single annoying aspect of it. I'm a bit old for Jacqueline Wilson now however I started this series when it first came out and I intend to finish it!
Hearing Diamond's backstory was very interesting; as I've got older, I've found Wilson occasionally has a habit of demonising fathers in her stories a bit too much. The mothers rarely get too bad from a moral standpoint. However, Diamond's father's decline into eventually "hating" his daughter is actually quite well put together. He still loves her in reality but she simply reminds him far too much off her mother. Not fair on Diamond, but a reason at least. The siblings featured were all fairly well developed; two of the brothers left the story early on and never came back but we found out about them what we needed.
Then there was Diamond's joining of the circus which was fair; I liked
But then we come to my main problem with the story- Diamond's attitude to Hetty. It's not bad, on the contrary it's overly positive. By what I think we're meant to find endearing in her relationship with Hetty, I find a bit irritating. It's the kind of friendship where you want Hetty to tell Diamond to give her some space. Not to mention, she suddenly stops caring about anyone but Hetty and Madame Adelaide. I understand she didn't care much for any of her "brothers" but they kind of just because a joke between her and Hetty after Hetty came into the picture, when she did appear to be somewhat fond of them, especially the older one.
Hearing Diamond's backstory was very interesting; as I've got older, I've found Wilson occasionally has a habit of demonising fathers in her stories a bit too much. The mothers rarely get too bad from a moral standpoint. However, Diamond's father's decline into eventually "hating" his daughter is actually quite well put together. He still loves her in reality but she simply reminds him far too much off her mother. Not fair on Diamond, but a reason at least. The siblings featured were all fairly well developed; two of the brothers left the story early on and never came back but we found out about them what we needed.
Then there was Diamond's joining of the circus which was fair; I liked
But then we come to my main problem with the story- Diamond's attitude to Hetty. It's not bad, on the contrary it's overly positive. By what I think we're meant to find endearing in her relationship with Hetty, I find a bit irritating. It's the kind of friendship where you want Hetty to tell Diamond to give her some space. Not to mention, she suddenly stops caring about anyone but Hetty and Madame Adelaide. I understand she didn't care much for any of her "brothers" but they kind of just because a joke between her and Hetty after Hetty came into the picture, when she did appear to be somewhat fond of them, especially the older one.
April 26, 2019
I read Jacqueline Wilson religiously as a child and it is a joy to rediscover her books as an adult. This was the first book I read in the Hetty Feather series - it was completely fine to read as a standalone, although there are references and characters that clearly feature in previous books. Despite that, I was drawn straight into the story, there was no confusion, and characters were re-introduced for first-time readers like myself.
The circus setting was interesting and vivid, making it easy to imagine. Diamond was a loveable lead that readers could admire and sympathise with. The social issues were apparent, mainly abuse and neglect, but they are tackled sensitively and delicately. There were villains to hate especially in the way they treated Diamond. But Hetty was the positive and upbeat heroine that built a solid friendship with Diamond and looked after her in the circus. I loved the illustrations by Nick Sharratt, they are such an iconic element to Jacqueline Wilson books and bring the characters to life.
I look forward to reading the other books in this series.
The circus setting was interesting and vivid, making it easy to imagine. Diamond was a loveable lead that readers could admire and sympathise with. The social issues were apparent, mainly abuse and neglect, but they are tackled sensitively and delicately. There were villains to hate especially in the way they treated Diamond. But Hetty was the positive and upbeat heroine that built a solid friendship with Diamond and looked after her in the circus. I loved the illustrations by Nick Sharratt, they are such an iconic element to Jacqueline Wilson books and bring the characters to life.
I look forward to reading the other books in this series.
January 4, 2019
For me at least, this book was not as good as the others
To me it felt like it was aimed at a younger audience and seemed more childlike, I understand that there are dark moments in it, would it be a Jacqueline Wilson's book if there wasn't anything dark?
But the narrative was written from a child's perspective therefore it seemed more childlike and even a bit dull, I would be lying if I said I read it all quickly were as in truth I got bored reading through it and had to find a lot of motivation to keep on reading.
It was nice to read about Hetty though, as she is one of my favourite characters but it felt odd reading about her world from a different perspective than Hetty's
Overall it's a nice collection to the Hetty Feather series but if I had to put them in order from which one was best to worst Diamond would be at the bottom
To me it felt like it was aimed at a younger audience and seemed more childlike, I understand that there are dark moments in it, would it be a Jacqueline Wilson's book if there wasn't anything dark?
But the narrative was written from a child's perspective therefore it seemed more childlike and even a bit dull, I would be lying if I said I read it all quickly were as in truth I got bored reading through it and had to find a lot of motivation to keep on reading.
It was nice to read about Hetty though, as she is one of my favourite characters but it felt odd reading about her world from a different perspective than Hetty's
Overall it's a nice collection to the Hetty Feather series but if I had to put them in order from which one was best to worst Diamond would be at the bottom
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