Opal WhiteleyOpal: The Journal of an Understanding Heart

I liked that it was such a sweet and charming book and that my children loved it so much.

everyone should read this book

I first read this book with my mother over 30 years ago. I loved the intimate relationship Opal has with nature. She is both a prodigy and an eccentric, having embellished some of the characters in the book, notably her mother who is said to be a very kind woman in reality. I highly recommend reading this book and forming your own conclusions about this fascinating child’s perspective on life in Oregon timber towns and nature in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.

Through the eyes of a wondrous child of Light, we are introduced to and commune with the many lovely voices of Nature, exquisitely revealed as Divine. Especial were Opal's gifts, and, as a result, many were those who said this story could not possibly be true, nor her assertions in adult life that she was royalty...Innocence, the pure of heart, those consciously connected with Nature spirits and the divine always bring out the barkers and nay-sayers. Opal's manifesto of Love is one of the most beautiful books ever written, by child or adult...Out of the mouths of babes!

Ostensibly the lost diary of a six-year-old Oregon girl who lived in lumber camps at the turn of 1900, this Journal of an Understanding Heart makes fascinating reading. The blend of mismatched childish words with hints of French and mystery, all rendered poetically and smoothly in this adaptation, creates an enjoyable image of a lonely little girl, misunderstanding and misunderstood. Sometimes hilarious, sometimes filled with innocence and pathos, the story follows Opals travels and travails with animal friends, human strangers, kind adults in loco parentis, and stressed out parents. Read straight, without commentary, it intrigues with childish humor and fun, and those slight deep thoughts with which children inspire such devotion.Of course, there’s more to the book that a child’s small words. Maybe her “angel parents” are dead, and maybe she’s really an orphan, transplanted to Oregon to take another child’s place. Maybe she’s royalty and speaks French because she learned it as a babe. Or maybe not.The poetic diary is fun and absorbing, whatever you make of the somewhat complex backstory. And the child’s eye view of life has a stubborn authenticity and lilting cadence that truly intrigues. I really enjoyed it.Disclosure: A good friend loaned this to me.

My nine-year-old daughter brought a book home from the library that first let us know about Opal, called only Opal the diary of a young girl and as we read in the back telling that there was a larger booked and more of her life we were very excited and intrigued. So we went ahead and purchased this book we read the front and the back of the book hearing more about her life and the struggle she went through to do the things that she wanted to do .we really really love her simplistic form of writing as a child - my daughter Who also loves all things nature now can't wait to find the fairy book

This is the childhood dairy of an enormously gifted child. It is sweet and delightful and the back story to Opal's life is very interesting. As it happens the story takes place in Cottage Grove, Oregon, a charming small town nearby.

Opal Whitely’s diary is a wonderful book.This author sort of missed the point, rearranged the text and put it into a loose verse form. The writing of Opal Whitely is amazing and bright and was not improved upon by this author’s attempt. This author missed the magic of the child’s voice in the original, like painting on a master piece in the misguided notion that it needs improvement.

I will keep this book forever and re-read it every once in a while. The author appears to have been an eccentric and is reputed to have died of near starvation, surrounded by books: she preferred to read instead of eating. This story touched me very, very much. Even if it really is not true, as some people say, the story itself is incredibly beautiful. The narrator/main character has a haunting voice. You will not forget this story for quite some time. Prompt service, thanks!

Full of delight! No matter the era, children have this special gift to see far further than we can. Loved it, it will stay on my bookshelfand pass to my grandchildren!