Adolescence Book Review: Diamonds in the Shadow
Cooney, C.
B. (2007). Diamonds in the Shadow.
Colorado Springs, CO: Waterbrook.
[Suspense]
Life is pretty sweet for
16-year-old Jared Finch, with nothing worse than an annoying little sister to
disrupt his easy life in suburban Connecticut.
Sweet, that is, until his parents volunteer to take in a family of
African refugees, forcing Jared to share his life, school, and even his bedroom
with a total stranger. But this African
family is not quite what they seem; they are hiding secrets that could put
Jared and his whole family in serious danger.
This novel by prolific author Caroline B.
Cooney sheds light on the painful truths of civil war in Africa and the trade
in illegal diamonds that fund those wars.
The story is told from the point of view of various characters in turn,
which adds to the suspense of the story while highlighting the contrasts
between the comfortable life of suburban Americans and the deprivations of
refugees in Africa. The story of the silent
and traumatised Alake, who has witnessed and participated in such atrocities,
is particularly poignant. Although the
work is entirely fictional, the author drew on her own experiences of
sponsoring and hosting a refugee family.
A gripping and thought provoking
novel, full of suspense and mystery, questions of guilt and innocence, and
ultimately of hope and acceptance. A
great read for older bookworms.
Check out Caroline B. Cooney's website to find out more about her, her books, and the ideas behind them.
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