Hetty Feather by Jacqueline Wilson is the first of a series written entirely in first person about a Victorian girl who shares the same name as the book’s title. I loved these books when I was little, especially because historical fiction was, and still is, one of my favorite genres. It was also written by my favorite author of my childhood, which definitely didn’t hurt! I recently remembered this series and decided to read the first book to see if I still liked it.

Hetty Feather is born in Victorian London and given up for adoption just a few days after her birth. She is sent to a foster home for the first five years of her life where she is cared for by the loving Cottons family, who foster children as a job. There, she lives with her other fostered siblings and forms a special bond with the Cottons’ only biological child, Jem. The two of them go on many adventures and plan their future together, even though they know Hetty won’t be staying with the Cottons for much longer.

After her fifth birthday, Hetty is driven to a foundling hospital. This was an institution that raised and educated abandoned or orphaned children during the Victorian era. As a bad-tempered child, Hetty is often subject to harsh punishments by the matron. Despite this, she is able to make a few friends with fellow foundlings and even shares a close bond with the kitchen maid, Ida.

A couple of years later, the children are allowed to go to the Queen’s Golden Jubilee under strict supervision. Hetty takes the chance to escape and find her real mother. After several dead ends and an encounter with a sinister man, she is eventually found by the new benefactor for the foundling hospital, Sarah Smith. Sarah takes Hetty back to the hospital but tells the matron that Hetty was kidnapped and doesn’t deserve any punishment, which the matron can’t argue against. Hetty is allowed to see Ida, who finally reveals that she is Hetty’s real mother. The book ends with the two of them imagining a future together, though no one else in the hospital is allowed to know the truth.

The story being written from the perspective of Hetty looking back on her childhood really enhances the narrative because of how she reflects on her old perception of the world. It allows readers to experience it more personally through a narrower and even unreliable point of view, adding to the complexity of it. Older readers can understand the true significance of a situation that younger Hetty can’t, which makes the story have an emotional impact as one can sympathize with her. I can tell the book was very much written for younger children as the style is a little childish. However, I think the themes of love and perseverance are important no matter who the intended audience is.

Ultimately, Hetty Feather is heartwarming and thought-provoking, as it offers a powerful look at childhood resilience. Hetty’s bold personality against real issues, like the loss of personal freedom, allows the narrative to be both insightful and entertaining. The ambiguous ending on whether or not Hetty and Ida are caught makes for a good cliffhanger. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction (like me!) and stories through the lens of an unreliable narrator.