An easy read from a well known and talented author. You can never go wrong with any book by Jacqueline Wilson. A lovely, well-rounded story, the usual type of story from Jacqueline. The cover is very colourful, eyecatching, and appealing and will draw attention to readers in a bookshop.

I absolutely adored this book and the ever-expanding Wilson World. I did expect more of a connection into the Hetty Feather stories, but was nice to see another Victorian perspective. Always love Wilson's historical works.

The Runaway Girls is another book where Jacqueline Wilson - yet again - proves she is the undisputed queen of character creation.

The story follows the escapades of runaway Lucy, and her friend Kitty, in Victorian London. Wilson has again used her distinctive magic to bring the girls to life. The characters are so intricately created that they seem to step out of the pages and become living and breathing friends for the reader. They are not without fault, but they are the kinds of characters you root for, who you desperately want to succeed. Their struggles become your struggles and you very much become part of their world. Even with the historical setting, the characters feel free, vibrant and relevant.

The harsh realities of life in 1851, and the stark contrasts between the rich and the poor at this time, are captured perfectly between these pages. The themes of friendship and loyalty form the backbone of this story. It is a well-paced and unpredictable read and a nice addition to the world of Hetty Feather.

I will gladly add a copy of this book to my classroom bookshelf, when it is released. It is a great piece of historical fiction that I know Year 5 will enjoy. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

A must read for fans of Jacqueline Wilson!! It's great to have a historical story aimed at you her ones which doesn't gloss over the harsh realities of life then, but doesn't get too depressing with it either, it reached a good balance point of informative yet entertaining and I would highly recommend buying it for any of your little ones