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Parents' Guide to

Opal: The Journal of an Understanding Heart

By Matt Berman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

The real-life diary of a child of nature.

Book Opal Whiteley Autobiography 2005
Opal: The Journal of an Understanding Heart Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 1 parent review

Glasshalffull
Glasshalffull Adult
January 9, 2019
age 15+

There IS violence in this book

I'm writing this review to let all parents and kids know that there is violence against children in this book -- Opal is hit by the "mama" woman who is supposed to be taking care of her. She also forces her to stay under a bed. I'd like the reviewers at Common Sense Media to change the Violence rating to a higher amount. It's unkind for such young children to be exposed to the idea of an adult striking a child.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Opal Whitely was a little orphan girl taken in by the wife of a lumberman in turn-of-the-century Oregon. A budding young naturalist and preciously gifted writer, Opal kept a journal of her difficult life on scraps of paper. When she was around twelve, a foster sister found her journal and tore it up into tiny pieces. Opal kept the pieces in a box.

In 1920 the editor of the Atlantic Monthly persuaded her to spend nine months putting all the pieces back together again, and published it. The result was a sensation, albeit a controversial one (there were some who claimed it was a hoax, though it seems clear that it's genuine). In 1976 Jane Boulton edited it down and broke up the lyrical lines into free verse poetry. This is the result.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

The journal, written in Opal's strange dialect that included numerous French words and phrases, is lovely, and warrants the poetic treatment. It's also not the work of a professional (most of it was done when Opal was 6), and Boulton's editing makes the whole tighter and more cohesive. Opal's tendency to see soul and intelligence and feeling in everything, living and inanimate, brings her world to magical, shimmering life, and hearkens back to animist and pagan religions.

This is clearly not a book for every kid, or even for many. There's no plot, little action, and a confusing abundance of characters, both human and animal. But for children who love nature, and language, the way Opal did it could be entrancing, and any reader will be inspired to look at their own world through Opal's eyes. This gentle, visionary journal is perfect for sharing in small doses between adult and child, and would be a perfect companion on hikes, picnics, and camping trips.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about humans' connection with the natural world. Do you think people are as close to nature now as they used to be? Why or why not?

Book Details

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