September 2013, Doubleday Children's, 304 pages, Hardback, Review copy
Themes: life for
the poor, being unwanted, sing your talents, compassion, alcoholic parent,
slavery, living in acircus,
domestic violence, friendship, small comforts, hope, despair, living in fear,
happy ending bravery, chocolate and cake
Content: Some
physical abuse, lots of tension and peril, a tissue is needed
Summary from Random House Children's Publishers
Diamond wasn’t always a star. Born to penniless parents who longed for a
strong, healthy son, she was a dainty, delicate daughter - and a bitter
disappointment.
Discovering she has an extraordinary gift for acrobatics, Diamond uses her talent to earn a few pennies, but brings shame on her family. Then a mysterious, cruel-eyed stranger spots her performing, and makes a deal with her father. Diamond is sold for five guineas, and is taken to become an acrobat at Tanglefield’s Travelling Circus.
The crowds adore Diamond, but life behind the velvet curtains is far from glamorous. Her wicked master forces Diamond to attempt ever more daring and dangerous tricks, until she is terrified to step into the ring. But there are true friends to be found at the circus, too: the gentle Mister Marvel; the kindly Madame Adeline; and the glorious Emerald Star, Tanglefield’s brand-new ringmaster, and Diamond’s heroine.
When life at the circus becomes too dangerous to bear any longer, what will the future hold for Diamond? And will her beloved Emerald be a part of it?
Discovering she has an extraordinary gift for acrobatics, Diamond uses her talent to earn a few pennies, but brings shame on her family. Then a mysterious, cruel-eyed stranger spots her performing, and makes a deal with her father. Diamond is sold for five guineas, and is taken to become an acrobat at Tanglefield’s Travelling Circus.
The crowds adore Diamond, but life behind the velvet curtains is far from glamorous. Her wicked master forces Diamond to attempt ever more daring and dangerous tricks, until she is terrified to step into the ring. But there are true friends to be found at the circus, too: the gentle Mister Marvel; the kindly Madame Adeline; and the glorious Emerald Star, Tanglefield’s brand-new ringmaster, and Diamond’s heroine.
When life at the circus becomes too dangerous to bear any longer, what will the future hold for Diamond? And will her beloved Emerald be a part of it?
Nayuleska's thoughts
My heart
did more than twinge as I read Diamond's bittersweet tale. Every time life
seemed to be on the up something unexpected happened to Diamond, making life a
real test of her courage. The cruelty and humiliation she suffers from her
blood father and so called adoptive father slash mentorwas a bit tough to read
because sadly such things happen in our lives. However it is the hope which
Diamond's new friends provide which see her through the tough times, and surprisingly
when times are extra tough even those who didn't warm to her stretched their
hands and hearts to the brave circus girl whom no reader will forget in a
hurry.
You can
find out more on Jacqueline's website.
Suggested
read
One of
Diamond's new friends, Hetty, already has her own series - I've read Sapphire Battersea
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