4 historical periods to discover in Jacqueline Wilson books

The Victorian Era

Jacqueline Wilson has always been interested in the Victorian era, ever since she played Victorian games with her daughter when she was small. She first wrote about Victorians in The Lottie Project. Charlie is learning about the Victorians at school and writes a diary as a Victorian girl, Lottie, who has to work as a nursemaid.

Jacqueline has written lots of books set in Victorian times, and the most famous is Hetty Feather. Hetty’s adventures continued in Sapphire Battersea, Emerald Star, Diamond, Little Stars and Hetty Feather’s Christmas. Jacqueline always does loads of research in the historical details. You can find out more about the Foundling Hospital, Victorian circuses, life in the countryside and Victorian food through reading these brilliant books!  Hetty even appears in Jacqueline’s brand new book Rose Rivers.

World War One

In Opal Plumstead, you can find out more about what life was like just before the First World War broke out in 1914 and about how the Suffragettes fought for women to be given the vote. Opal has always been fiercely intelligent. Yet her dreams of university are snatched away when her father is sent to prison, and Opal must start work at the Fairy Glen sweet factory to support her family.

Opal idolises Mrs Roberts, the factory’s owner, who introduces Opal to the legendary Mrs Pankhurst and her fellow Suffragettes. But the First World War is about to begin, and will change Opal's life for ever

World War Two 

In Wave Me Goodbye, set in 1939, London was preparing for war and many children were sent from the city to live with families in the countryside. Shirley has to go and live in the strange Red House with two other evacuees. The book is full of fascinating facts about what it was like to be a child during the war. 

1950s 

Queenie is set in 1953, the Queen was about to be crowned, and Elsie is very excited about going to see the Coronation. But then she becomes ill and has to stay in hospital for a long time. But a very special visitor to the ward helps her to feel better