Opal Plumstead is a 2014 children's novel written by British author Jacqueline Wilson and illustrated by British illustrator Nick Sharratt. The plot revolves around fourteen-year-old Opal, who has to abandon her dream of going to university in order to work at a sweet factory after her father is sent to prison. Opal ends up becoming a suffragette and develops a romance with the son of the factory owner, which is disrupted by the outbreak of World War I. Opal Plumstead is the 100th novel that Wilson has written and she decided to name the protagonist Opal as she had bought herself an Opal ring. Wilson intended to set the novel in the first World War, but ended up changing it to 1913 when she realised that several other writers were setting their novels during the war. Opal Plumstead was well-received by critics and readers and Opal's character has received praise, as has the portrayal of suffragettes in the novel.
Opal Plumstead is a plain but intelligent fourteen-year-old girl who is planning to go to university. However, when her father is sent to prison, she has to abandon her dreams and work in a sweet factory to economically support her mother and sister. Although she does not get along with her co-workers, she forms a bond with Mrs Roberts, the owner of the factory and a suffragette. Opal becomes a suffragette too and begins a romance with Mrs Robert's son, Morgan. However, things are further disrupted because of the outbreak of World War I.
Production and release
A teaser video for the novel was released in April 2014.[1] The cover was revealed on 30 June 2014.[2] Emily Drabble from The Guardian reported that Opal would be "Wilson's most outspoken and fiery heroine yet".[2] The novel was released on 9 October 2014, published by Doubleday Children's Books.[2][3] A paperback version was released on 4 June 2015.[4]Opal Plumstead is Wilson's longest book at over 500 pages, and it took her around 9 months to write.[5] In November 2014, Wilson discussed the novel at the Richmond Literature Festival.[6]National Geographic Kids and The Guardian held competitions for readers to win a copy of the book.[7] Two trailers were released for the novel, one of which was broadcast on television.[8][9]
Opal Plumstead is Wilson's 100th book.[10] Wilson explained, "I used to say to children I wanted to write 100 books and then I'd keel over. It did slightly prey on my mind, so I rather hurriedly wrote the 101st. I always like, for security's sake, to have another book on the go, and even the one after that".[10] Wilson had not kept track of the exact number of novels she had written, but her publishers had told her that this would be her 100th book, so Wilson tried to make it "special".[11] She added that reaching 100 books felt unreal, but that it felt "great to have written so many".[12] Wilson did not believe that she would publish a sequel to the novel due to Opal becoming too old at the end of Opal Plumstead for a children's novel.[12]
Jacqueline Wilson decided to set the novel in 1913.
Wilson had previously written several novels set in the Victorian era and realised that she liked writing historical novels, so she decided to change the setting for Opal Plumstead to the Edwardian period due to there being a lot going on during that time period.[11] Wilson intended to set the novel during World War I, but changed the setting to 1913 instead when she realised that many other children's authors were setting their novels during World War I.[10] However, the end of the novel features the outbreak of the war, with the author noting that she wanted the ending to reflect how WWI "was such a tragic event and had a terrible impact on so many lives".[12] Wilson believed that the novel had a feminist theme, explaining, "I don't tend to write about girls who just dream of getting married and being homemakers. Mostly they're the odd one out, or have had a difficult start in life. Hopefully my books are quite comforting. I don't think I've ever written about a girl who's conventionally pretty with everything going for her".[10] She explained that the novel was about a smart girl from "respectable working-class home and how difficult it is to escape from your background".[10]
Wilson enjoyed writing about the suffragettes and sweet factory in the novel.[5] She explained that when she realised that Opal's character would be "fierce", "sharp" and "intelligent", she decided that Opal would become a suffragette.[11] Part of Wilson's inspiration for the novel came from her wanting to use the information from an article she found regarding Edwardian sweet making, and also because she had "always" wanted to write about the Suffragettes.[12] Wilson did some research on the Edwardian era by reading novels from the era and social history books, in addition to doing research on Emmeline Pankhurst and her family.[12] Wilson decided to name the protagonist Opal as she had bought herself an opal ring in 2013, and she decided to name the protagonist of her 100th novel "Opal" when she saw the ring "gleaming" on her finger.[13] She noted that she related to Opal as they were "both odd ones out at school and very imaginative".[12] She also noted that Opal was her second favourite character that she had created, after Hetty Feather, although she admitted that she would have found her Opal to be "a trial" at times if she were her mother.[12] She added, "I'd feel devastated about her missing out on her education – and delighted that she ended up at art school".[12] Discussing the character after the novel, Wilson believed that Opal would feel "mostly happy and fulfilled artistically" but feel sad when thinking of Morgan despite being "content" with Sam.[12]
Reception
A writer from The Times praised Wilson's ability to make "interesting, lovable characters who navigate 9 to 12-year-olds through key moments in history", calling it "unmatched", whereas Jill Murphy from The Bookbag called Wilson's 100th book "prolific".[14] Lydia Slater from The Times noted how Wilson's own background was similar to the setting of the novel.[10] Bonnie Evie Gifford from Happiful.com placed the novel on her list of empowering books for children, writing, "Featuring an outspoken heroine and Jacqueline Wilson's distinct, captivating style and Nick Sharratt's small, quirky illustrations, children will enjoy the unique blend of fiction and history".[15]Lorraine Kelly believed that Wilson making Opal into a suffragette made "perfect sense" and noted that she really liked the character.[11] A writer from The Lady believed that Opal was one of the "most loveable and memorable characters in modern literature".[16]
The Guardian published a number of reviews from young readers, who generally praised the novel and Opal's character, although one reviewer believed that the book had a bunch of "flaws" and opined that Opal acted too childish for her age.[17][18][19][20][21] As part of a weekend-long nother reviewer from the website wrote an article about the suffragettes in the novel, and opined that Wilson "beautifully explains" Opal's perception of the Suffragettes in the book.[22] The writer believed that the novel was "very sensitive to the complexities of the situation" by featuring Opal's mother being negative about the movement, and also opined that more writers should focus on educating readers.[22] The writer also called the novel "entertaining" and noted that it provided them with much knowledge about the suffragettes.[22] Additionally, Heather Sandlin from The Guardian put the novel on her list of Young adult novels that featured the Suffragettes in an article to celebrate the release of the 2015 film Suffragette.[23] Sandlin opined, "Through her newfound friendship, [Opal] is plunged into the world of the Suffragettes and the rights that they so bravely fight for. The passionate women she encounters will teach Opal that integrity and hope are never truly lost".[23] A writer from National Geographic Kids called the novel a "cooker".[7]
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