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Diamonds in the Shadow
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$ 14.07
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$ 15.99 |
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$ 1.92 (12%) |
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| Item Number |
64772 |
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Item Description...
Overview
The Finches, a Connecticut family, sponsor an African refugee family of four, all of whom have been scarred by the horrors of civil war, and who inadvertently put their benefactors in harm's way.
Publishers Description
A powerful novel about the difficulty of doing what is right.
Through their love for people, yet ignorance of the unknown, the Finch Family has joined alongside their church and opened their home to an African refugee family who are moving to Connecticut. The Amabo family of four– Andre, Celestine, Mattu, and Alake: father, mother, and teenage son and daughter– arrive in great hope as they have escaped the tyranny of Africa. What the Finch Family doesn't know is that there are not just four refugees in this Amabo family, but five.
As the Amabo family, who have suffered unimaginable horrors, begin to adjust to a life of plenty in the Finches' suburban Connecticut home, and the Finches are learning new lessons of “The Golden Rule”. The life adjustment for all seems flawless.
But the fifth refugee does not believe in good will. This lawless rebel has managed to enter America undetected. And the Amabo family has something of his--something that they agreed to carry into the country for him.
When Jared, the oldest Finch son, realizes that the good guys are not always innocent, he must make a decision that could change the fates of both the Finches and the Amabos. In this uncommonly penetrating story, Caroline B. Cooney presents a fresh perspective on how doing what is right can be most difficult.
Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, September 17, 2007:
"Crackling language and nailbiting cliffhangers provide an easy way into the novel's big ideas, transforming topics that can often seem distant and abstract into a grippingly immediate reading experience."
Caroline B. Cooney is the bestselling and award-winning author of numerous books for young people. She makes her home in both Westbrook, CT and New York City.
Chapter One
IN AFRICA, FIVE PEOPLE GOT on a plane.
In America, twelve people attended a committee meeting at the Finches' house. This was not unusual, but Jared Finch didn't see why he was required to attend.
Like all the causes Jared's mother and father took up--raising a zillion dollars for a church addition or tutoring grown-ups who couldn't read--bringing refugees from Africa was completely not of interest to Jared.
His mother and father seemed to be avoiding his eye, and even staying on the far side of the room. Even more suspicious, when the minister finished his opening prayer, he said, "Jared and Mopsy, thank you for coming."
Everybody beamed at Jared and Mopsy. Twelve adults were grateful to have the most annoying little sister in Connecticut at their meeting? Smiling at Jared, who prided himself on being a rather annoying teenager?
"The apartment we found for our refugee family fell
through," Dr. Nickerson told the committee. "We don't have a place for them to live and the four of them are arriving
tomorrow."
Jared Finch could not care less where some refugee family lived.
"Drew and Kara Finch have generously volunteered to take the family in," said Dr. Nickerson.
The room applauded.
Jared stared at his parents in horror. The refugees were coming here?
His little sister, a mindlessly happy puppy of a kid, cried out in delight. If Mopsy had ever had an intelligent thought in her life, she kept it to herself. "Yay!" cried Mopsy. "It'll be like sleepovers every night."
Jared gagged.
"You see, Jared, we have a lovely guest suite," said his mother, as if he didn't live here and wouldn't know, "where the parents can stay and have their own bathroom."
This implied that there were kids who would not be staying in the guest suite. So they would be staying where, exactly?
"Your room and Mopsy's are so spacious, Jared darling," his mother went on. "And you each have two beds, for when your friends spend the night. And your own bathrooms! It's just perfect, isn't it?"
Jared's mother and father had volunteered his bedroom for a bunch of African refugees? And not even asked him? "I'm supposed to share my bedroom with some stranger?" he demanded. Jared did not share well. It had been a problem since nursery school.
Mrs. Lane, a woman Jared especially loathed, because he was fearful that Mopsy would grow up to be just like her--stout and still giggling--said excitedly, "That's why your family's offer is so magnificent, Jared."
Jared figured her last name was actually Lame.
"You will guide and direct young people who would otherwise be confused and frightened by the new world in which they find themselves," cried Mrs. Lame.
She definitely had somebody else in mind. Jared did not plan to guide and direct anybody. Jared's bedroom was his fortress. It had his music, his video games, his television and his computer. It was where he made his phone calls. As for Africa, Jared knew nothing about the entire continent except what he'd seen on nature shows, where wild animals were always migrating or else eating each other. But about Africans themselves, aside from the occasional Jeep driver, TV had nothing to say. And there was always more important stuff on the news than Africa, like weather or celebrities.
Jared would be forced to hang out with some needy non-English-speaking person in clothes that didn't fit? Escort that person into his own school? Act glad? "I decline," said Jared.
"The church signed a contract, Jared," said Dr. Nickerson. "We are responsible for this family."
"I didn't sign anything," said Jared. "I don't have a responsibility."
The committee glared at Jared.
Jared glared right back. They weren't volunteering to share their bedrooms. No, they could force two handy kids to do it. "My sister and I are the only ones who actually have to do any sharing? You guys get to contribute your old furniture or worthless televisions that you didn't want anyway for when these guys get their own place, but meanwhile Mopsy and I have to take them in?" He hoped to make the committee feel guilty. Everybody did look guilty but also really relieved, because of course they didn't want to share a bedroom either.
"It'll be so wonderful!" cried Mopsy, hugging herself. "Is there going to be a girl who can be my best friend?"
It was getting worse. People would expect Jared to be best friends with this person who would invade his life. "What went wrong with the rental?" asked Jared, thinking he would just kill whoever was
getting the apartment, thus freeing it up again for these refugees.
"The owner's eighty-year-old grandmother, who's blind, is moving in with her caregiver."
Oh, please. That was such a lie. How many eighty-year-old blind grandmothers suddenly had to move in with their caregiver? The owners were probably remodeling so they could sell the place for a million dollars instead.
"What are we supposed to do, Jared?" asked Dr. Nickerson in his most religious voice. "Abandon four people on the sidewalk?"
They'd been abandoned anyway; that was what it meant to be a refugee. Jared opened his mouth to say so, but a movement from his father caught his eye. Dad was sagging in his chair, deaf and blind to the meeting. Having a family of refugees in the house probably wasn't his choice either; Mom had saddled him with it. He wasn't on this committee, and the last committee on which Dad had served had gone bad. His co-chairman had turned out to be a felon and a bum. But Jared had more important things to worry about right now. "How long are these guys supposed to live here?" he demanded.
"We don't know," admitted the minister. "This is an expensive town. We're going to have trouble finding a low-cost rent for people earning minimum wage. We probably found the only place there is, and now it's gone. We'll have to look in the cities nearby--New London, New Haven. And probably in bad neighborhoods. It's a problem we didn't anticipate."
Jared never prayed, because the idea of a loving God seemed out of sync with the facts of the world. Nevertheless, Jared prayed now. Please, God, don't let there be a boy in this family. Make Mopsy do all the sharing. I can squeeze my extra twin bed into her room. I'll even move it cheerfully. "What do we know about these guys?" he said.
"Very little." Dr. Nickerson waved a single sheet of paper. He handed it to the person sitting farthest away from Jared, ensuring that Jared would be the last to know the grim truth. "That's why we've gathered here tonight. Let me introduce our representative from the Refugee Aid Society, Kirk Crick."
What kind of name was that? It sounded like a doll Mopsy would collect. And what was up with Kirk Crick that he couldn't even photocopy enough pages for everybody to have one? It didn't exactly give Jared faith in the guy's organizational skills. |
Item Specifications...
Pages 240
Dimensions: Length: 1" Width: 6" Height: 8.75"
Weight: 0.8 lbs.
Binding Hardcover
Release Date Sep 11, 2007
Publisher WaterBrook Press
Age 12-17
ISBN 1400074231
EAN 9781400074235
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Availability 1 units.
Availability accurate as of May 24, 2012 05:40.
Usually ships within one to two business days from La Vergne, TN.
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Reviews - What do our customers think?
 | Caroline B. Cooney Weaves a Masterful Mystery Oct 17, 2009 |
Author Caroline B. Cooney masterfully illustrates the terror of war and how it vastly differs from the simplicity of suburban life in the United States. When Jared's family hosts a refugee family from war-town Africa, he doesn't want to share his room or his life. Mopsy, his little sister, is thrilled to host Alake, hoping she'll be her best friend. Both Jared and Mopsy are surprised at the strange family that comes to live in their home.
Jared realizes the refugees don't act like a normal family, but his parents accept the refugees' pretense. His parents enjoy teaching the refugees the conveniences of American life.
The refugee family brought only two boxes of cremated ancestors with them and no other luggage. Jared and Mopsy discover raw diamonds in the boxes and find themselves trapped in an evil plan to ruin the refugee family's freedom and future.
Unable to escape the pain of their previous lives, the refugee family discovers true freedom with grace, forgiveness, and peace. Jared and his family bond from the surreal experience. This eye-opening mystery-thriller is sure to please both teen and adult readers. | | |  | Diamonds in the Shadow May 22, 2009 |
Diamonds in the Shadow is a mystery of what happens to an African Refugee family when they end up living with a Connecticut family after an apartment falls through. The church was looking for a family to take in the Amabo family until they can find another apartment for them to stay. The Finch family had agreed to take the four of them.
Jared Finch does not want to share his room or his life with a boy he knows very little about. Although, his eleven-year old sister, Mopsy, is eager to have the sister she had always dreamed of. She said, "It'll be like sleepovers every night." When the Amabo family arrives, the Finches find out there are more problems than expected. Andre's hands were cut off, making it hard to find him a job and Alake does not speak a word. Other problems arose because Mattu carried his grandparent's ashes all the way from Africa. Celestine, the mom, and Andre, the dad, also do not pay much attention to their children, which creates a suspicion to Jared. The Finches help Andre and Celestine find jobs as well as help teach them everything they will need to know to make it on their own. They are also teaching Mattu how to drive.
As the book continues, a fifth refugee, a killer, is revealed and the Amabos have something he wants. He is a threat to the Amabos and the Finch family. Alake will be forced into a dangerous situation where everyone's life will change.
The fast paced, action filled mystery by Caroline B. Cooney will keep you wanting to read more. This is one of her best books ever. The plot helped me learn about different cultures and the struggles we overcome everyday as well as what other cultures have had to forget.
| | |  | The Finch's oldest son Jared realizes "something isn't right" Apr 1, 2009 |
The Finch family open their home to the Amabo family, refugees from Africa. The refugees suffered horrible atrocities in their homeland. Adjusting to American culture was difficult. There is more than meets the eye when it comes to the Amabo. The Finche's do not know they agreed to carry diamonds into the country for a fifth refugee who is a soldier intent on violence. The Finch's oldest son Jared realizes "something isn't right" and must decide what to do with the information. Who should he tell? Will he help or make matters worse?
Diamonds In The Shadow is a good read. Caroline B. Cooney mixes suspense and intrigue to form a good plot. Diamonds InThe Shadow is thought provoking. It shines light on the plight of the refugees. Cooney makes the reader revaluate their life. Diamonds In The Shadow will make you grateful for all you have.
| | | | A Gem of a Tale Mar 19, 2009 |
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! | | | | Diamonds in the shadow Mar 18, 2009 |
When the apartment that the Amabo family was to stay in falls through - Jared is forced to share his bedroom with Mutto - their teenage son. He is not very happy about this -not happy at all. Mopsy, Jared's younger sister, is overjoyed at the fact that their teenage daughter Alake will be bunking with her.
The Amabo family are refugees from Africa. They have received passage to the states and are being sponsered by Jared's church. They will help to give them training and find jobs - but there is trouble from the start. The biggest being that the fifth refugee on the plane doesn't like not being in control. Then Andre Amabo, the father, has had his hands chopped off during the war in Africa - one at the wrist, the other at the elbow. Alake doesn't speak - and doesn't appear to hear either. She has to be prodded to even eat. And what is up with Mattu and the two cardboard boxes that contain the ashes of his grandparents?
Jarod doesn't believe in the same God that his parents do, and that the Amabo's seem to also. He feels praying is a waste of time. But while the Amabo's are staying with them, his reality begins to change. He finds that doing things for other people really isn't that much trouble. He discovers that his younger sister isn't so annoying, but has great insight and can even be trusted. And he discovers what secrets the ashes of Mattu's grandparents contain. What he does with that information will decide the fate of both families - but will he make the right choice?
This would be a great book for middle schoolers and maybe early high school. It is well written, but seems a little simplistic for older than that. I would not recommend it for younger thatn middle school because of some of the violence that it describes.
People are not who or what you expect in this book - and that helped to make it a quite a page turner. I was able to read it in just two sittings.
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