I was looking for some storybooks for Caleb when I stumbled upon one of Jacqueline Wilson’s works. I remembered one of my dear friends in college posting about some of her J. Wilson’s books in a very positive tone, making me impulsively buy “The Diamond Girls” at a reasonable price.
It’s been a long time since my last book review, and I am so glad to do this again. I made a choice to go back to collecting books for me and Caleb.
This book is all about Dixie Diamond, a ten year old girl living with her three sisters (Martine, Jude and Rochelle) and her mother, Sue, who is pregnant with whom they thought a baby boy. The four sisters were born with different biological fathers, which explicitly shows the lifestyle Sue Diamond has (no one can blame her though, considering that she was rejected by her mother when she got pregnant with Martine at the age of sixteen).
Arguing and disagreement seems to be a daily routine for the sisters, since they have unique preferences. Martine loves to hang-out with Tony, the boy who lives next to their flat. Rochelle is that one sassy lady who frantically is an attention-seeker. Jude is the “buttercup (Powerpuff Girls)” of the family as she got a fierce personality and she’s that type of girl who never backs down.
They were like the black sheep of the council estate they live in; Sue’s being called a slag as she just enters a relationship with any guy she meets (she believes that it was written in the stars) and recently got pregnant probably from a one night stand, Martine is in an intimate relationship with Tony, her classmate and neighbor at barely 16, Jude often gets involved in “gang” fights and again, their physical fathers aren’t physically and financially around to support the four young Diamonds in their education and other needs.
With the desire to start over with their new member, Sundance Diamond (who was presumed to be a baby boy, but was actually a baby girl), Sue decided to move in to a “new” house in Planet Estates even if the young Diamonds were against her plans. She sought help from Dixie’s father, who refers them to his friend, Bruce, who served like their angel. He helped (a lot) in sorting things out, making this new beginning a fair start.
Things went well, at first. Not until awful things happened to the young Diamonds (except little Sundance), waking up Sue about her reality as a mother and changing their lives forever, as a family.
*I chose not to give details about the Diamonds’ chained tragedies because I don’t want to spoil you.*
Honest opinions:
- The situation is realistic, except for the young Diamonds’ ages. I’d say they were too young to think in such ways. (disclaimer: I don’t know, tho. Maybe I’ve said this because I grew up in a country where most girls of these ages don’t have the mindsets they have, although I couldn’t deny that teenage pregnancy is rampant here. Woops, that was a bit of spoiler. Peace out.)
- I loved the way it shows examples of feminism in different angles. Especially in Jude and Sue’s characters.
- Shine bright like a diamond, as they say. Diamonds go through intense pressure before shining, and I’d say the development these character had in the story nailed it. Considering the characters’ age, it was indeed a heart-touching story.
- I can sense a bit of chemistry between Sue and Bruce. I must admit I kinda raged why they weren’t given a chance to be a couple. As I dug deeper, I suddenly remembered that Bruce is a friend of Dixie’s dad. It would be disrespectful if Bruce pursued Sue. But if they actually felt sparks, it wouldn’t be bad if they gave a try, right?
- This should be a movie. I really love the story, honestly.
Rating: 9/10. Y’all should read this.
I’d also like to give a life update: I just bought another Jacqueline Wilson book. I’ll tell you all when I’m done reading it.
I hope you like the review, friends! I know, it’s not that good since, again, it’s been a long time. Til’ the next book-venture!
Wins.
