Book Review on Diamond Willow by Helen Frost

Please note that this blog has been created as an assignment for a TWU course.

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY

Frost, Helen. 2008. DIAMOND WILLOW. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. ISBN 0374317763

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

Diamond Willow, a twelve-year-old Native Alaskan girl who wants to be called Willow, goes through the sometimes lonely and awkward phases of growing up and becoming more mature.  Like many tweens and teens, Willow often feels ordinary: “If my parents had called me Diamond, would I have been one of those sparkly kinds of girls?”  She has one best friend that is beginning to want to spend more time with a certain boy.  Willow feels more comfortable with her favorite dog, Roxy, because animals cannot hurt feelings like humans can.  Willow desperately wants her parents to acknowledge that she is growing up.  Willow’s parents agree to allow her to mush out the dogs to her grandparents’ house all by herself.  While on the journey, an accident occurs and Roxy’s eyes are injured.  Willow manages to get the dogs and herself to her destination.  Willow blames herself for Roxy’s injury and feels as if her parents were right regarding her being too young for such a big responsibility.  Her parents understand that accidents happen.  When Willow finds out that the vet recommends that Roxy be put down, she makes the decision to take Roxy to her grandparent’s house because they would take good care of her.  While on the path, they get caught in a snow storm.  Willow has to think herself out of a hole and survive the weather.  Willow’s ancestors, in the form of animals, watch over her as she figures out what to do.  By the story’s end, Willow and Roxy survive and Roxy begins to get her sight back.  Willow’s parents feel that since she has displayed accountability and responsibility, she is ready to hear the story about her twin sister, Diamond.  Diamond past away four days after being born and was the spirit of the dog, Roxy.  After Diamond’s passing, her parents gave Diamond’s name to Willow.

3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This is a moving story that most tweens and teens can relate to.  The feelings that many tweens and teens experience are communicated in a thoughtful manner: “I’m skinny and ordinary like a stick.”  Willow’s journey to achieving maturity is well explained.  Mature individuals must have accountability, responsibility, and the ability to think themselves out of a difficult situation. 

The story is written a series of poems that are in Willow’s point of view and shaped like a diamond.  There are bolded words within the poems that convey a hidden message: “I know I’m a little amazing.”  The ancestors’ points of view are written in standard form.  The diamond-shaped poems, Diamond Willow’s name, her past, and her journey are very symbolic.  At the beginning of the book, the author describes what diamond will is.  The diamonds form on several different kinds of shrub willows when a branch is injured and falls away.  The dark center of each diamond is the scar of the missing branch.

This will be an excellent book to share with tweens and teens because it helps readers understand that we are all on a journey to become who we are meant to be and that our character is defined by how we act in trying situations. 

4.  REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “[A] gem of a book…Accomplished and impressive.”

Starred review in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “Frost’s ingeniously structured novel in verse…may be set in 1850, but its themes will resonate with today’s teens…Memorable.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “Frost casts a subtle spell through innovative storytelling.  Her poems offer pensive imagery and glimpses of character, and strong emotion.  This complex and elegant novel will resonate with readers who savor powerful drama and multifaceted characters.”

5.  CONNECTIONS

*If you feel comfortable leading a discussion about feelings tweens and teens often have and the journey to achieving maturity, this is a book that enables students to vicariously experience trying situations.  You can ask open-ended questions during the discussion, give students ample time to talk about their experiences, etc.  Have you ever felt ordinary or insignificant?  How did that make you feel?  Do you feel as if adults do not recognize that you are growing up?  If so, please explain.  Do you feel that you are not given increased responsibility when you really deserve it?  If so, please explain.

*Gather other books written by Helen Frost:

Frost, Helen. 2008. MONARCH AND MILKWEED. ISBN 1416900853

Frost, Helen. 2005. KEESHA’S HOUSE. ISBN 0786276975

Frost, Helen. 2004. SPINNING THROUGH THE UNIVERSE. ISBN 0374371598