Diamond Willow Review

 Diamond Willow


BIBLIOGRAPHY

Frost, H. (2008). Diamond Willow. Square Fish. ISBN: 978-0-312-60383-0


PLOT SUMMARY

Diamond Willow is a verse novel set in rural Alaska. Willow only has one friend and would rather spend her time with her dad preparing their sled dogs. She finally convinces her parents to let her mush to her grandparents’ house by herself. After a successful ride there, she begins the return home a few days later. A horrific accident leads to a life-or-death situation for her favorite dog, Roxy. Vowing to not let Roxy be euthanized, WIllow enlists the help of her best friend to trek back to her grandparents to convince them to take care of Roxy. A wrong turn leads to fighting for survival overnight. Through it all Willow stays calm and shows maturity. Her parents revealed to her she was a twin and that her name was Diamond. Her ashes were spread at the very tree she slept under. Roxy is allowed to become an inside dog and is later found to be the spirit of her dead twin. By the end of the novel, Willow befriends kids at school and Roxy returns as one of the lead dogs. 


CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The first-person verse novel has an author’s note by Helen Frost at the beginning explaining the culture of Athabascan ancestors and Alaska life for her. A diamond willow lamp and walking stick inspired the name of the book. She also mentions there is a hidden message in each diamond-shaped poem printed in darker ink. Willow is the one speaking when the diamond-shaped poems are on the page. Her ancestors, now personified through animals, are written in regular novel form. There are no illustrations included in the book. The imagery created of the Alaskan landscape is powerful and meaningful to the novel. The bolded words give a tiny snippet of how Willow is feeling. Usually no more than 5 words, these bolded words give a peek inside her deep-down feelings. There are strong emotions shared that impact a large part of the book. Willow is the most connected to her dog Roxy who is discovered later to be the soul of her deceased twin Diamond. When Roxy is speaking as Diamond, you can feel the connection between the two and how circumstances were not a fluke. This book is recommended for grades 5th-8th.



REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Horn Book Guide starred (September, 2008)

After an accident leaves her favorite sled dog, Roxy, blind, twelve-year-old Willow must transport Roxy to her grandparents for safe-keeping. The first-person, present-tense narrative is typeset in diamond shapes; bold-faced words at the heart of each diamond hold an additional nugget of meaning. Despite some misplaced mysticism, as a dog and dogsled story, the tale wears its knowledge gracefully.


CONNECTIONS

Students can create a shape poem inspired by the diamond-shaped verses in the book using nature as their guide. 

Choose another ancestral animal and tell how they help Willow in her journeys from their point of view.






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