Rose Rivers

Hetty Feather #8

by Jacqueline Wilson

'It's not fair. We can't help being girls, can we?'Rose Rivers lives in a beautiful house with her artist father, her difficult, fragile mother and her many siblings. She has everything money can buy - but she feels as though life isn't fair for girls and poor people.Why can't she be educated at school like her brother?Why can't she learn to become a famous artist like her father?Why is life so unfair for people who were not born rich?When a young girl, Clover Moon, joins the household as a nursemaid to Rose's troubled sister Beth, and she meets her father's bohemian protégé Paris Walker, she starts to learn more about the wider world.Will Paris help Rose finally achieve her dreams? And will she be able to help Clover find her own dream?

Genres: Childrens, Historical, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Fiction, Audiobook, Humor

480 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Jacqueline 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.

Reviews

[Kerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacqueline Wilson is an author I always know I can depend on for a good book. I've adored her writing for years, and I've become especially fond of her Victorian tales, of which this is one.

Rose Rivers is a character I related to, and loved very much; she fiercely longs to be something more than what she is allowed to be, restricted by the period of time she lives in, constrained by society and by her gender. While her twin brother goes off to school, she is stuck at home. The story was wonderful, with a great cast of characters. I loved following along as Rose started to observe, question, even reject the world around her.

And, as always, Nick Sharratt's wonderful illustrations are a delight.🌹

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another in the Hetty Feather series, with - brace yourselves now - a headstrong young girl who doesn't like being told what to do! Oh, and she likes drawing! And reading! Can you believe it?

I'm probably being unfair. The book is very well researched and written, clear enough for children to understand even the things that seem very unfamiliar. And unlike some of the recent ones, it does finish, more or less, rather than stop. I'm guessing there'll be more from either Clover or Rose in another year.

Jacqueline has done a lot of work getting her Victoriana right, and I'm sure the books are helping to get young readers interested in the time period.

[Hazel Went · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found Rose Rivers a more difficult story to get through than any of Wilson's others. I couldn't quite believe in the character of Rose, and I found her slightly irritating as the book progressed. Perhaps it is because she didn't fit with my Victorian stereotype, but I don't think so. Some of the other characters irritated me slightly: I think the book just didn't work for me personally. I would still recommend Jacqueline Wilson to anybody, but I can't enthuse about this book as I have about others by Wilson.

[Lauryn Kavanagh-Coombes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been a big fan of the Hetty Feather series and it's associated stories since the very beginning (despite my sadly being over the age bracket by now) and so I was so looking forward to reading Rose Rivers after her brief introduction during Hetty Feather's Christmas. I enjoyed the fact that this book provides a different view of the Victorian era; Wilson writes about poor little waifs and strays so well but I was looking forward to her tacking the other side of the fence this time. However, despite it's 460 pages, I found this book slightly lacking in page-turning content. This is probably appropriate, considering the story is about a girl with nothing to do but skulk about the house, but when the vast majority of the story is spent making the reader wonder if Rose's mum is flirting with the artist, it did get a bit dull. The very last chapter was the only time I found myself itching to find out what happens next. Nevertheless I enjoyed this story, and had I been about 10 years younger I would have devoured it for its intriguing educating look at the Victorian era. As always, I'm looking forward to Wilson's next book, but am hoping for a little more drama this time!

[❤Amy and Sofie❤ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf @ about 56%

i got quite bored and i dont even know why im reviewing this now. this is quite children's, nothing i've been very intrested in. i like older kid's books or YA now, but this just kinda sucked.

yeah, Dnf, i mean, i cant read this, and always felt like i must turn the flippin' page!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a brilliant book! I had no idea how the plot would unfold.
Completely different in style to Wilson's other books, not as conversational.
I found it strange that Rose knew Paris Walker wasn't kind but conniving.
I don't know of any other Wilson book with autism. Poor wee Beth.

[Amber T · Rating 3 out of 5]

As much as I loved the Hetty Feather series when I was younger, I’m not a huge fan of Hetty’s appearances in this book nor in Clover Moon. It feels like a weak attempt at shoehorning her into their stories and I think the plots would’ve been fine without her. Aside from that this plot was okay, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I’d enjoyed Hetty’s stories but in fairness I am ten years older than I was when I read them

[Ash · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll be honest in saying that Rose irritated me quite a bit. I also felt a little like the class divide issue was slightly sugar coated and that Clover and Rose's friendship is not exactly one that would have been sustainable in reality. The ending was also a bit silly.

Rose and Clover aren't alive for me in the way that Hetty is. They're too similar and too bland for me to care about them much.

[Elena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Guys pls don't judge, I'm in macedonia, reading material is limited 🙏

[Adriana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars! This was so much fun.

[Eve L-A Witherington · Rating 4 out of 5]

You should read Clover Moon and Hetty Feather's Christmas before this one if possible!



Rose is a young girl in a wealthy family whom loves studying and wishes to go to school more than anything but instead her twin brother Rupert gets to go.



All when her father encourages her drawing and his friend Paris

a painter also, encourages her she can't help but fall a little for Paris as he's older but shows her attention. As Paris is commissioned to paint a portrait of her mother, Rose gets the chance to spend time with him where he encourages her greatly. She discovers she is a talented comedy sketch artist where as painting isn't her forte.



She knows her father is also a talented artist though he once had a love whom posed for a portrait which her mother detests.



Beth her youngest sister loves dolls and her father meets Clover Moon there and takes her on as Beth's and the other children's nursery maid. They also have Hetty for Christmas as Sarah Smith comes to Christmas dinner with them too.



When the family get to go to Scotland for hogmanay many things happen, as nurse Budd feeds Beth a cordial to supposedly calm her this the bottle is emptied too quick and a doctor is needed...



While when Paris has good news for Rose about her comedy sketches, things get misinterpreted and her family leave without her...



What will happen to Rose Rivers next?



I truly enjoyed this latest offering from Jacqueline but did feel the book could be shorter however the story was full of the usual childish antics from her siblings. I did like the fact that Rose was a young girl with a crush on an older man as it can happen that we fall for someone we can't actually have and especially the way they get caught could've caused catastrophe for a Victorian family if what supposedly happened had truly happened!



A tale about unrequited crushes, women wanting an education and artistry!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a three star read-

PROS-
I liked Rose’s family
I loved her relationship with Rupert
The Ending (the most dramatic bit of the book)
Clover and Rupert (best characters)
When Hetty turned up and it overlapped with Hetty Feather’s Christmas
The Beth plot line (well- the conclusion of it and the twist)

CONS-
I think it was a bit too long
Not really much plot (wouldn’t have minded if it was shorter)
I liked Rose at first but after a while she got a bit irritating
The mother (worst character- aside from Nurse Budd, but at least she gave us good plot- the mother was just annoying)

These are all my opinions, so feel free to disagree! I liked this book, but it definitely doesn’t stand up to the other Hetty Feather books or Clover Moon

[Samiha · Rating 1 out of 5]

Aside from the new Tracy Beaker books, I haven't read a Jacqueline Wilson story in YEARS, but I got such an urge to do so recently. Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed with this one. It's over 400 pages long, but isn't incredibly page-turning and is, dare I say it, a bit boring since Rose spends most of her time moping about at home and doesn't really have much to do aside from worrying that she's not a good enough artist. Rose herself also got increasingly unlikeable as the story progressed.

The relationship with Paris Walker and the age gap was also very uncomfortable considering she's 13?!

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much! I literally couldn't put it down! I read in 2 or 3 days because I loved it that much! I read it on holiday and I enjoyed it a lot. The first book was amazing, and I was waiting for a sequel for AGES! It finally came out, I read it, and I am thrilled. I loved this new perspective. The only thing I didn't like was the ending. It was a good one, I was just a bit annoyed. But I won't spoil it for you, so why don't you go find out yourself!

[Amy Richman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this book because it explores the fact of a young victoian girl eger to go to school but she cant. i love her perseverance and courage. jaquline wilson is an amazing author i love her books!

[cosmichoney · Rating 1 out of 5]

seriously? romanticising adult-child relationships AGAIN? okay jacky you do you

[Billy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decided to take this one slower than other books I've read so far this year. I remember reading Hetty Feather ten years ago not long after it was published, and her brief reappearance, along with Wilson's writing in general, made me feel nostalgic for my cousin's box room where we used to hunch over books with endless cups of tea....
But I missed Wilson's writings, her witty and strong-willed female characters. I missed the individualism and diversity that she never fails to show and yet somehow the similarities in every character. Though, not in a John Green kind of way where every female character is literally the same with a different story line. Growing up, Wilson's books showed me that there's no one way to be, we all have flaws and make mistakes that at the time seem so innocent, but there is a future beyond those mistakes.
Rose Rivers is the scapegoat of the family, she's criticised by her mum and is restricted due to not being allowed to be educated like her twin brother. I couldn't help but psychologise Rose's parents - Rose and her mum are more alike than they believe which is why she's so critical with her. I loved Sebastian and Beth - I'd probably label them as the most obvious black sheep of the family, which is why I relate to the two children most of all. And Nurse Budd - we love a good villain!
There was nothing 'wrong' that was missing or too much of for this not to get 5 stars, but although the finale was 'happy' in essence, I think how Wilson went about it was a bit risque. But she has done a similar sort of thing with a couple of other books of hers - I won't say for not wanting to spoil it.

[cozycatsandbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy Jacqueline Wilson's books. I have read and reread many of them in the past few years. However, some of them have very strange endings that leave me feeling like I just took a wrong turn and now I am confused or perplexed that she built up the entire book for a very flimsy ending. She either wraps the story up so quickly that there are too many loose ends, or her characters do a 180-degree turn and make strange decisions. With that being said, she does a lovely job of helping her readers peer into Victorian England and what life was like not only for the wealthy but also for those who were not and had very real struggles due to the injustices of the class society.

[Izzy Dorrance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book and I struggled to put it down.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Older Jacqueline Wilson reader here, I had to collect this latest companion novel in the Hetty Feather series and i enjoyed it more than i was expecting! I really liked reading about a more wealthy family in the Victorian times and Rose’s crazy family. I enjoyed Rose being older and connecting with some of the older suggested themes. The ending was left open with a possible sequel?! Which i would be really interested in as i was cheering for Rose! I gave this 4.5 stars

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hate the fact that rose and her TWIN brother get treated so differently rose doesn't get treated the way she deserves I'm not sure though if the relationship between rose and Paris is creepy other then that this book was fun fast and kept me interested

[Chloe Sellers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was actually so good, I had high hopes and it passed them all. It was so good, I also love how it included Clover and Hetty too.

[salo · Rating 4 out of 5]

for a children's book, this was very well-written. i just loved the drama.

[Nav (she/her) 🌧 · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was one of my least enjoyed Jacqueline Wilson books. I didn't find the storyline that interesting as there was nothing to really root for. The main character, Rose, didn't have anything that set her apart or made me care about what she got up to.

[F.R.I.E.N.D.S Lover ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! You meet Rose Rivers, a clever girl who wants to follow her twin brother to boarding school but prevented by her mother who wants her to be a prim and proper lady. Things take a turn when she befriends a nursery maid and her fathers protage instead of her mums lady friends! When she goes to her Grandparents famous Scottish ball, her life changes forever. This is a book entwined with Hetty Feather’s Christmas and mixed with Clover Moon, all by Jacqueline Wilson.

[Vita Luna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Millie Hodgson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite liked it but then in some parts it was a bit boring.

[Amelie]

I'm probably far too old for JW, but as a school librarian I always enjoy an opportunity to read her newer books, and this was perhaps my favourite!
It has so many interesting elements. I always appreciate historical fiction, especially when it is so child friendly and relatable. Children in the 21st century can easily relate to Rose and other characters, such as Sebastian.
I did keep wondering where the Paris/Rose storyline was going. I'm intrigued to see how that will be reconciled if there is a sequel. Obviously it would be inappropriate for Paris to like Rose back, considering she is only 13, and yet I want Rose to be happy!
I am on the spectrum, and I loved that Beth clearly was too, although the term autism was never used. It was interesting to get a glimpse of how autism was treated back then, and made me feel incredibly lucky to live in this era!
Nothing hugely exciting was happening- there were a few different, equally important plots all threaded into one story, and each was relatively basic and realistic- and yet the story felt exciting all the same and I read it all very quickly. I suppose that's because Rose is very likeable and real and you care about what happens to her. Jacqueline Wilson has a knack for creating characters that you could picture yourself being friends with, in situations you could picture yourself in. They aren't perfect or conventional, but they feel human. There is no distance between character and reader- it's like reading a letter from a friend. There is no huge, adventurous plot with a predictable solution, because real life isn't like that.
SLIGHT SPOILERS BELOW
I do hope there is a sequel- I'd love to see how Rose goes in school, and I'm a sucker for books set in boarding schools! I'm also interested in what happens with the other characters.

[mollyreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this book up until the last 50 or so pages!

Let’s focus on before that. All her siblings are really well written and interesting and Rupert was really cool! I also loved the staff and the way that she managed to get Clover Moon and Hetty Feather in because they are some of my favourite characters! I love their fiery spirits. Rose is nice but she’s a bit of an annoying character and being in her head wasn’t as fun as Clover’s but I still liked it! Her parents were also cool and the storyline had a good flow and I liked it. Rupert and Pamela were weird but it didn’t bother me because she wasn’t a massive character.

But I hate her relationship with Mr Walker or ‘Paris’ because I find it creepy and their interaction is defiantly not my favourite. They weren’t that bad and I could look past it.

Then she kissed him!!!

I hated it and the whole relationship with her family especially her Father crumbled and were completely useless! I hated that so much. Then they go away and decide to make her go to school which is the worst punishment because that’s what she wanted all along!

I gave it a three because of this ending, if it had gone differently it may had been worth a 4 or 5 but I couldn’t after the kiss. I was frustrated but I Love Jacqueline Wilson and her Victorian books and Clover and Hetty and if there was another book I would give Rose another chance because she had so much potential!

[Emily Chandler · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book will likely be captivating for young fans of Jacqueline Wilson - but WHAT is with her continuing to include characters in their early teens who kiss grown men?! I can think of only one of her books (an early thriller, Snap) where the man who was open to kissing a thirteen-year-old girl was explicitly depicted as a pedophile. The rest of the time, the grown men in question are depicted as good people who truly care about - or even love - the young heroines. Kids having crushes on adults is a part of life, and I’m not suggesting it shouldn’t be depicted in fiction, but I am baffled at the continued choice to show these kinds of interactions between men and teenage girls. It’s especially bizarre considering that in this book, the kiss being discovered motivates Rose’s family to send her off to school, the way she’s always wanted, leading to the closest this book is going to get to a happy ending. Yet if you had to have her family send her to boarding school out of concern for her virtue, there was no reason for the person she was kissing to be an adult. An upper-class Victorian family would have probably been just as scandalised to discover their thirteen-year-old snogging another kid of the same age. I know that adults at the time had different ideas about age of consent or victim-blaming, but there are ways of critiquing that in-story without having all the characters be unrealistically Woke for the time period they’re in.