“How dare you rework it in such a ludicrous manner! Who do you think you are Opal Plumstead?”
I could not imagine the struggle Opal must have gone through, the work of making molds every day in a factory where if you come even 5 minutes late they dock an hour's worth of wages just to support her mother and sister. Opal Plumstead used to live by, barely having anything. Only being able to go to school because of a scholarship she is incredibly intelligent, but her dad got arrested, taking away their family’s only income. Now, Opal Plumstead’s dreams of going to college were dashed because she now has to go to work at a factory to support her family.
My favourite part is when Opal comes to the factory and the director shows her all around the candy factory and explains how the candy is made. I love when people talk about how things are made. It also shines a light on how in most places at the time, they did not accept change and there always would be people who were fixed in tradition.
Jaqueline Wilson’s book deals with the themes of inequality, fairness, and women's rights. Opal Plumstead shows us how it was like to live in a world where women and men were not equal and it also provides the truth that if it means a lot to us, we will always try our hardest to accomplish what needs to be done.
Opal Plumstead was a book impossible to put down; the use of showing how it was like in women suffrage meetings really helped portray the message about how unequal society was at the time. I recommend Opal Plumstead to readers who enjoy historical fiction and to those who enjoy hearing about the past. You quickly will become immersed in the book and feel the character’s losses, happiness, etc. It is truly a book impossible to put down, making me need to know more.
“Promise again that you will come back safe even so…”
I'll never lie still, I'll roam free.
