Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.comI've been a fan of Caroline B. Cooney ever since reading THE FACE ON THE MILK CARTON years ago. That being said, I was thrilled when I saw she has a new book, DIAMONDS IN THE SHADOW. True to her contemporary style, Cooney brings in a current events issue - the unexplainable violence taking place in some areas of Africa today. This new book focuses on a group of African refugees coming to the United States to begin living safer and more enriching lives. Four of the refugees - a father, mother, and two teenage children - are welcomed at the airport by the Finch family. The family's church is sponsoring the refugees and will provide them with a place to live and help in adjusting to life in America. The fifth refugee is met at the airport in New York, but is headed for a new life in Texas. Not everyone is happy about the new living arrangements. The Amabo family was originally supposed to have their own apartment with the church volunteers helping out as needed. However, an apartment was not available, so they are moving in with the Finches. High school student, Jared Finch, is not at all pleased with this change in plans. His mother may be all excited about teaching this new family the ways of America, but sharing a room was not part of the arrangement. Celestine Amabo is anxious to start learning about her new surroundings. She is a quick study as Mrs. Finch takes her shopping and teaches her about cooking and cleaning. Andre Amabo's adjustment is hampered by the fact that the uncontrolled violence in Africa resulted in the loss of both of his hands. Instead of learning to work, he is spending time visiting doctors who hope to create at least one artificial hand, enabling him to help in the support of his family. Jared and Martha (Mopsy) Finch take on the task of helping the two African teenagers deal with school and their new American lives. Mattu adjusts quickly, but Alake doesn't seem to see or hear anything that goes on around her. Jared Finch is suspicious about these strangers right from the start. He doesn't believe they are really family. There doesn't seem to be an emotional or loving connection between any of them. While the Finch family is working hard to adjust to their new guests, the fifth refugee is in Texas trying to find out where the Amabos are living. It appears that someone in the refugee "family" has something valuable that belongs to him. Is he looking for something related to two mysterious boxes supposedly containing the cremated remains of Mattu's grandparents? Can he find them and will everyone be in danger when he does? Caroline B. Cooney succeeds once again with a YA novel filled with suspense and action. Adding the current event topic of the African refugee situation, along with the struggle of Americans to understand and help those in need, creates much to think about in DIAMONDS IN THE SHADOW.
Diamonds in the Shadow by Caroline B. CooneyReview by Mason FreyDiamonds in the Shadow takes place in current day Connecticut. The Finches are a family made up of Kara, a wife and mother of two children, Drew, the husband and father, Mopsy, the playful and crazy sixth grade daughter, and Jared, the unenthusiastic teenage son. And the refugees are Celestine, the mother of two children a boy and a girl, Andre, the handless husband and father, Alake, the teenage girl who doesn’t speak, and Mattu, the strong athlete-like teenage son who is incredibly optimistic and kind, who also has an unusual British accent the other refugees don’t possess.tIn this book the Finches decide to take in a family of African refugees. The Finches job is to teach this refugee family how to properly function in America. The refugee family has no clothing except the rags they had in the refugee camp. The only other things they have are two egg cartons supposedly filled with the ashes of Mattu's and Alake's dead grandparents. The Finches teach the refugee family how to drive, shop, work, use the internet, and basically live their new life. At first the Finches don't notice the little things that Jared and Mopsy begin to see, like the fact that Andre won't look at his daughter and the refugee parents don’t seem to care about their children. Soon the Finch children get suspicious. What's really in those egg cartons? What the Finches don’t know is that there was a fifth refugee on the plane from Africa and that he is trying to harm the refugee family that they took into their household. tThis book is a great mystery book because it is full of suspense and secrets. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to sit down and read a good suspense-filled book. Caroline B. Cooney has written many other great books and won many awards. She also wrote Code Orange and Face on the Milk Carton. I like that this gets a point across about how bad it is for some people in Africa right now and that one American family taking in a refugee family and teaching them how to live in their new home can make a big difference in their lives. This is one of my favorite books I've read. It is the first book I have read that made me stop and think about how hard it must be to blend into a new culture when you have been scarred and left for dead in a country where there is no law. This book made me realize what great lives Americans have in a country where there is peace and law and freedom.
What do You think about Diamonds In The Shadow (2007)?
An American family of four. An African family of four ... plus one shadow figure with a murderous agenda. Jared Finch is less than pleased when his parents agree to host the Amabos - an African refugee family - in their home until an affordable apartment can be found for them. It means, among other things, that he will be forced to share his private space with a teenage boy, who shows up carrying the ashes of his dead grandparents in boxes. How weird can things get? Jared's sister, Mopsy, also shares a room, but the little girl is happy - even excited - to do so. Too bad her roommate turns out to be a skinny teen so traumatized by the horrors of her past that she no longer speaks, and barely knows there is a world around her. Dead, but still breathing. As the two families learn to co-exist under the same roof, each of them has much to learn. The Amabos come from a lifestyle and culture their hosts don't even want to imagine; the Finch family is dealing with a painful betrayal of their own. In the midst of all the newness and scars, each member of the group learns and grows. Perhaps more than any of the others, Jared finds something changing within himself. Then he becomes aware of the danger stalking the refugees - and, by association, his own family. Will he find a way to save his new friends without compromising the safety of his own household? Diamonds in the Shadow is a dynamic blend of suspense, mystery, family relationships - and just plain good reading. Probably best categorized as young adult fiction, it's a tale that will be enjoyed by many adults, as well. It digs in and won't let go. The author paints vivid pictures of a war-torn country and it's scarred and beaten citizens, while underscoring this harsh reality with the healing power of love, compassion, generosity, and humanity. Pages turn, hearts pound, tears fall ... and the last page comes all too soon, leaving the reader wanting to know what happens after. Excellent storyline, believable characters, great writing!
—Delia
Jon has provided us with the experience of having his African friends over at Christmas...and once we attended an African fireside with him that was entirely in French (a language that I do not speak). However, this book takes the hospitality a step further by following the lives of an American family who opens their home to African refugees. Gratitude is too weak a word for what we should feel as Americans who are so blessed with the amazing extent of prosperity and peace we have compared to a huge population on this planet. Also explored were themes of family,forgiveness,and the various faces of good and evil. A suspenseful and thought provoking read with an ending too neat for real life, but just perfect for a YA book.
—Jean
Jared Finch is informed by his parents that he must share his home and room with refugees from Africa. Jared can't believe this is happening to him - the church needs to figure out something else! After meeting the refugees, Jared wonders if they are really the family they are suppose to be - they don't seem to act like any family Jared knows. Mattu has come to America carrying 2 shoeboxes - he tells the family that they contain the ashes of his grandparents, but Jared quickly figures out that he is lying - they actually contain raw diamonds. Great mystery about the diamond trade of Africa.
—Tina
