Diamonds in the Shadow

By Caroline B. Cooney

Book Overview

THE FINCH FAMILY did not know that five refugees landed from Africa on the day they went to the airport to welcome the family sponsored by their church. The Finch family only knew about the four... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385732627
• ISBN13: 9780385732628
• Release Date: March 2009
• Publisher: Delacorte Press
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.6" x 5.2"

Customer Reviews

A Gem of a Tale

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!

Loved this book

The Finch Family doesn't have a large house and when his parents agree to host a family of African refugees, Jared knows he'll have to share his room. Not that he's selfish or anything, but did anyone think to ask him? The Amabo family arrive, and they're not exactly what anyone expected. For one thing, Andre, the father has no hands. The rebels chopped them off. Mattu the teenage son has a long machete scar running down his cheek, and the daughter doesn't speak. Not only that, they seem to be afraid. A mysterious fifth refugee from the plane appears to have evil designs on the Amabo family. Teenagers will love this book. So did I. Recommended

Thrilling look at families and devastation

Diamonds in the Shadow by Caroline B. Cooney is the story of the African refugee Amabo family and their hosts the Finch family. The Finch family agrees to take on the refugees after an apartment rented by the church for them falls through. Jared, the eldest son, is disgusted to have to share his room with a complete stranger, as well as his home. Mopsy, the eleven-year old daughter, can't wait for the Amabos to arrive in hopes that their daughter will be the sister she's longed for. But when the Amabos arrive, things aren't quite what they seem. The parents ignore their teenage "children". Mattu, the boy, is eloquent and immediately falls in love with the opportunities and excess of American culture. Alake, the girl, is oddly silent and unkept. No one notices the girl's distress except for Mopsy who takes the African under her wing and decides to fix her. The Amabos are hiding many secrets that could endanger not only themselves but the Finches as well. This was my first Caroline B. Cooney book; she's one of my daughter's favorite authors, and after reading this book I can see why. Her portrayal of Jared as the typical teen is uncannily accurate: he's selfish and narcissistic one moment and compassionate and generous the next. He's the only one to look beneath the surface of the Amabos and see the lies hiding there. Mopsy is very naive and innocent, and many in her life take that for immaturity, but when she decides to love Alake, she becomes the only link the saves their entire family. Alake is hiding a terrible secret; her "family" knows, and they shun her for it. In America, she attends church and begins to learn about God, but the more she learns, the more she believes that what she's done is unforgivable. The culture shock experienced by both families is realistic and profound. I was impressed at the depth to the plot and issues addressed. When my daughter, Molly, finished reading it, we talked a bit about the choices both families made. It made her consider what she would do had she been in Alake's place. Any book that opens up communication between a parent and child gets my vote as a terrific read! The final scene between Alake and her mother brought tears to my eyes. It, as well as the rest of the book, was powerfully written.

A truly wonderful read

Diamonds in the Shadow begins in a church committee meeting that Jared Finch-much to his surprise-is requested to attend. The church has sponsored a refugee African family of four, and their planned accommodation has fallen through. The Finch family has volunteered to house them for several weeks, much to Jared's disgust. As far as he is concerned, he hasn't signed up to anything, and it is his bedroom, as well as that of his sister Mopsy's, that is being volunteered. The family eventually arrives. A disgruntled Jared does his best to overcome his unwillingness. His mother and sister are filled with boundless and cringe-inducing enthusiasm. His father, already bogged down in the implications of a church financial scandal involving a close friend, is completely detached. And this is one bizarre refugee family. Independently of each other, both Jared and Mopsy begin to realize that something very strange is going on under the surface. The behaviour of the Amabo family members towards each other does not make sense, and clearly, the entire family is absolutely terrified of something, or someone. This knowledge draws Jared and Mopsy together, and begins to make them both curious and protective towards the children, Mattu and Alake. Surprise after surprise awaits them as the dark secrets of this unusual family begin to be uncovered. This is a wonderful read, full of sparkling humor, top class teenage `attitude,' and gripping suspense. It is a book that can be enjoyed by both teenage and adult readers alike. Armchair Interviews says: This book will make you laugh, and you won't want to put it down.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

I'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. Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"