Hetty Feather

Hetty Feather is the touching story of a young girl living in a Foundling Hospital and trying to survive London in the 1800s. In The Lottie Project, Wilson showed us she has a knack for writing in this time era, so when I saw it on the shelves, just after it was released, I begged my Dad to get me this. I devoured it in four days, and this story still sits with me in my life.Hetty is a young girl, abandoned when she was just born at the Foundling Hospital by her Mother. She lived with her foster family and her foster brothers, Jem and Gideon, She loves Jem, even if Gideon is a little bit whiny and is a total Momma's Boy. Then, her life is turned upside down when she must return to the Foundling Hospital once more, just like every other foundling when they hit a certain age. Her wonderful orange locks are cut off, she's forced to wear an itchy dress she does not like, and has to fit in with girls in her dorm that she just does not like.Hetty's character is written absolutely stupendously. Even now, eight years after reading this, I still remember Hetty Feather as if she were the little girl that lived down the road from me. She's a bright, fiery young girl who tries her best, but finds she has a little bit of a problem with authority. She's the outcast in the Foundling Hospital, but does her best. She loves her writing and her reading, and does everything she can. She's inquisitive, and loves to learn (especially if Jem's teaching her the alphabet), but there's one question she can't find the answer to.Who is her Mother?What follows is a wonderful story of heart break, family and reconnecting. This book moved me to absolute tears. I found myself wiping tear after tear away from me as Hetty goes about her adventures, just looking for her mother - and after some time - is just looking for a home, somewhere to call her own. She causes stir after stir, but makes friends in the most unlikely of places.Eight years after reading this, the story of Hetty Feather still haunts me and makes me smile as I think back on her. The story written here was definitely enough to make me want to read more of the Hetty Feather series, (this book is followed by Sapphire Battersea, that I never got a chance to read on release), and I definitely want more historical fiction of her. This story was heart touching and really well written. Her descriptions are amazing, her characters are perfect, and it really goes to show that Wilson is one of those authors that can conquer nearly any genre. This was a large part of my life growing up, and I cannot wait to revisit everything that Wilson has. Her works truly make me excited and this is one 400 page book I did not want to end, and I cannot wait to reread it. A definite 5/5 stars from me and I recommend this to everyone who enjoys young adult and/or historical.