Sapphire Battersea facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Jacqueline Wilson |
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| Illustrator | Nick Sharratt |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
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Publication date
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2011 |
| Media type | Print (paperback) |
| Preceded by | Hetty Feather |
| Followed by | Emerald Star |
Sapphire Battersea is a book by Jacqueline Wilson, published in 2011. It's the second book in the Hetty Feather Trilogy, following Hetty Feather. The story continues with Hetty, who is now 14 years old. She leaves the Foundling Hospital and starts a new life as a scullery maid, which is a kitchen helper.
Contents
Hetty's New Adventures
Life After the Foundling Hospital
After discovering that Ida, a kitchen maid at the Foundling Hospital, is her mother, Hetty secretly visits her at night. Hetty dreams of becoming a famous author, writing under the name Sapphire Battersea. One night, another girl, Sheila Mayhew, who often bothers Hetty, follows her. Hetty and Ida's secret is found out.
Because of this, Ida loses her job. She is sent to Bignor-on-Sea to work as a housekeeper for an older woman. This arrangement is made by Miss Sarah Smith, a friend of Hetty's and a member of the hospital's board. When it's time for Hetty to leave the hospital, Miss Smith arranges for her to work for Mr. Charles Buchanan, a writer. Hetty will be a scullery maid in the countryside of Kingtown. As Hetty is picked up by Mr. Buchanan's cook, Mrs. Briskett, a young man tries to call out to her. This young man is later revealed to be Jem, Hetty's former foster brother.
Working for Mr. Buchanan
Hetty spent most of her childhood inside the Foundling Hospital. Because of this, the outside world often confuses and amazes her. As she settles into her new job, Hetty starts helping Mr. Buchanan with his writing. She copies his stories because his handwriting is hard to read. In return, Mr. Buchanan agrees to help Hetty improve her own stories. He also gives her stamps so she can keep writing letters to her mother.
Hetty also finds a possible boyfriend in Bertie, the local butcher's boy. He takes her to the fair, on a boat ride, and for walks in the park. Hetty also goes with Sarah, the parlourmaid, to a séance with Madame Berenice, a medium. During the séance, a vision of Hetty's foster brother, Saul, who passed away long ago, appears. This frightens Hetty.
A Sudden Change
Hetty's new life soon falls apart. She finds a poorly written copy of her own story in Mr. Buchanan's office. It is titled Emerald Greenwich. Hetty believes Mr. Buchanan copied her work and accuses him of it. She is immediately fired. Before she leaves, Sarah gives Hetty her suitcase. Mrs. Briskett gives her a jar of money and some food. Hetty goes to see Bertie one last time before heading to Bignor to be with her mother.
Life in Bignor
On the train to Bignor, Hetty meets the kind Greenwood family. She becomes friends with them. Hetty reunites with her mother, but is shocked to see how sick Ida has become. Hetty calls for a doctor, who says Ida has consumption, a serious illness. When the doctor tells Miss Roberts, the woman Ida was caring for, Ida is fired right away. Miss Roberts also refuses to hire Hetty, fearing they might spread the illness.
Ida is taken to a hospital, while Hetty stays with the Greenwood family for two weeks. She feels like part of their family and visits Ida often. The Greenwoods offer to take Hetty with them when they leave Bignor, but Hetty decides not to go. She gets a job at Mr. Clarendon's Seaside Curiosities. She works as "Emerald the Amazing Pocket-Sized Mermaid". She makes a mermaid tail from a green dress, a pink top, and a shell bra. While working there, Hetty becomes friends with Freda, a female "giant." Sadly, Ida's illness gets worse, and she passes away in Hetty's arms. With Freda's help, Hetty arranges a funeral for Ida.
The Search for Family
Hetty returns to Kingtown and visits Madame Berenice for another séance. She hopes to talk to her mother. During the séance, Hetty discovers that Madame Berenice and her sister are tricking people. But Hetty decides not to tell anyone. She knows that the séances give hope to Madame Berenice's other clients, even if it's not real.
Sarah, who was also at the séance, takes Hetty back to Mr. Buchanan's house. In the kitchen, Hetty meets Rose-May, Mr. Buchanan's new servant girl. Rose-May tells Hetty that Bertie is now interested in her. Hearing this makes Hetty very upset. While feeling sad about being an orphan, she hears Ida's voice. Ida tells her that she is not an orphan because her father is still alive. The book ends with Hetty saying, "I am Sapphire Battersea," planning to find her father.
Main Characters
- Hetty Feather (Sapphire Battersea): She is the main character. Now 14 years old, Hetty has red hair. She leaves the Foundling Hospital and works as a scullery maid for writer Charles Buchanan. She is fired when she accuses him of stealing her stories. After spending most of her life in the hospital, Hetty is not used to the outside world. For example, a dog frightens her, and she doesn't know how to open a coconut.
- Ida Battersea: She is the kitchen maid at the Foundling Hospital and Hetty's mother. After their secret relationship is discovered, Ida is fired. She is sent to the seaside town of Bignor to work as a housekeeper. Ida is diagnosed with consumption and eventually passes away from the illness.
- Bertie: He is the Butcher's boy and a possible love interest for Hetty. Before the story, Bertie accidentally cut off the tips of three fingers on his left hand. He also spent some time in a workhouse. After Hetty leaves Kingtown, he becomes interested in Rose-May, Mr. Buchanan's new servant.
- Mrs. Briskett: She is Mr. Buchanan's cook. She is described as a large woman. She doesn't approve of Madame Berenice and her séances, as they go against her Christian beliefs. She is very good at baking.
- Sarah: She is Mr. Buchanan's parlourmaid. Sarah is a regular client at Madame Berenice's séances. Hetty decides not to expose Madame Berenice as a fraud mainly to protect Sarah's feelings.
- Mr. Charles Buchanan: He is Hetty's boss and an author. Hetty finds his stories very boring and hard to read. He fires Hetty after she accuses him of taking her stories and trying to make them his own, calling them Emerald Greenwich.
- The Greenwood Family: Mr. & Mrs. Greenwood, Charlotte, Maisie, and Flora: They are a kind family visiting Bignor for two weeks. They let Hetty stay with them, and for a while, she feels like part of their family. They suggest Hetty go home with them, but Hetty knows it wouldn't work out. Still, they give Hetty their address and encourage her to visit. Hetty describes them as the kindest people she has ever met.
- Madame Berenice & Emily: Madame Berenice is a medium who holds séances. Hetty finds out that she and her sister, Emily, are fakes. Madame Berenice pretends to be controlled by spirits, while Emily covers herself in a white veil, pretending to be a ghost.
- Miss Sarah Smith: She is an author, a member of the Foundling Hospital's board, and Hetty's supporter. She gives Ida a good reference to help her find a job after she is fired. She also recommends Hetty to Mr. Buchanan. Hetty enjoys reading her stories.
- Rose-May: She is Mr. Buchanan's new servant. She is described as small, fair, with big blue eyes. She is a very religious Baptist and refuses to go to Madame Berenice's séances. Hetty finds her unpleasant.
What Happens Next
The book is followed by Emerald Star, which was released on September 27, 2012. The series continues with a book called Diamond, which is about a girl Hetty met in Emerald Star. After that comes Little Stars, which follows Hetty and Diamond after the events of Diamond.
