NCLA Review -Jared’s parents have opened their home to a family of African refugees but he has never been very good at sharing. While his mother seems thrilled to teach the Amabo family about suburban American lifestyle, Jared and his sister begin to sense that the Amabo family is hiding something. Stories about the atrocities in Darfur and blood diamonds seem very far away, but Caroline Cooney has brought these frightening realities to Connecticut. Sensitive readers may be disturbed by the description of horrible war crimes; however Cooney balances the narrative by showing the moral development of the main characters. Young adults will appreciate the fast-paced suspense. Rating: 3 —KET Waterbrook 2008, 228p, 9781400074235, $15.99 [FIC] ( )

Jared is a typical American teenager who hates homework, his little sister, and sharing his possessions. When he learns that his family will play host to 4 African refugees, he is appalled by the prospect of surrendering half his room to a teenage boy he's never even met. As soon as the family arrives, Jared knows that sharing their lives will be even more difficult than his charitable, religious family imagines. Not only are the refugees perplexed by doorbells, juice cartons, and telephones, they also barely seem to be a family. Yet, even as Jared and his younger sister become suspicious of the refugees' story, they come to admire and even love the hard-working, long-suffering people sharing their home.

I appreciated several aspects of the novel. Until the very end, it avoids the type of soap opera drama that would have poisoned the reality of the narrative; instead, it quietly demonstrates that evils considered fantastic in America are realities in some parts of Africa. The book accomplishes this through dozens of tiny, human details, like a teenage refugee amazed that Americans can ignore a speeding police car -- "he could not imagine a world where people could afford not to know the location of armed men," the author writes in an early scene of the novel.

Details like this one allowed me to overlook the action-packed, schmaltzy climax, which suggests that the American Dream comes true instantly and magically true for everyone, complete with becoming a local hero, surviving a near-death experience, and getting a puppy all in one day. This over-the-top ending is the only place where the book would appeal only to the young adult audience for which it is intended; even as an adult reader, I sometimes put the book down between chapters to ponder its revelations about the nature of evil and the things Americans take for granted. Although I hope to find an adult novel that deals with this subject matter a bit more maturely, I would still recommend this even to other grown-up readers. ( )

Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

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. ( )

If you are into the whole blood diamond thing this book would work. I liked the storyline. Reading this book may make people more aware of whats going on in Africa. By the title I figured it would be about blood diamonds, and it was. I liked this book although it may make people weary of immigrants. If they can kill and come to America, what if they came into your home. AHS/BB

Recommend for grades 8 and up. Realistic, but maintains a gentle touch. Could provide excellent discussion topics, dealing with change, characters are not always completely bad or completely good, the current plight of refugees, the challenges they must face when entering a new environment, how that affects those already living in the environment. Also, embedded is the concept of organized religion, neither praising it or condemning it. Would work for public and religious school discussions. ( )