Like Helen's book "Hidden", this book has hidden gems inside each of the diamond shaped poems. It gives us a more indepth look at the story. This is a story of a young girl named Willow who feels like she doesn't fit in anywhere except with their dogs. She loves them. When she is finally given the opportunity to take them out on her own, something terrible happens. Willow finds out she is never alone. Part of the story is told through the voice of ancenstors. There is so much to love about this book that as I have said with the last few books, this is a must read and a must have four school book shelves.
There are always interesting things within Helen's books. I had never heard of the diamond willow. I had to look it up and realized I knew an old man years ago when I was a child who had a diamond willow cane. I thought that he had burned the diamond shape into it. It is always wonderful to learn something new as an adult. ( )

The author uses mostly diamond shaped poems on every page to tell the story of 13 year old Athabascan/Anglo Willow, living in the Arctic with her parents and their team of sled dogs. When Willow feels responsible for the injury of favored lead dog, Roxy, she sets out on the tumultuous task of saving her beloved dog from euthanasia. Along the way, the spirit animals of her ancestors lead her to safety and reveal a most unusual secret about the deep connection between Roxy(Diamond) and Willow. A touching tale perfect for young Alaskana readers. ( )

Diamond Willow is novel in verse and prose. The story takes of twelve-year-old Willow takes place in a remote village in Alaska. Willow would rather blend into the background yet she wants to be seen for who she is, not what people want her to be. Willow wants her BFF to like her more than the boy she has a crush on. Like all twelve-year-olds, Willow wants her parents to acknowledge that she's not a little girl anymore and giver her more freedom and responsibility. But more than anything, she wants to mush the dogs to her grandparents' house by herself. One day when Willow has the dogs out by herself an unfortunate accident happens and one of the dogs is injured. Now Diamond Willow must learn to handle the consequences of her actions. Helen Frost writes each poem in the shape of the patterns found in polished diamond willow branches. Within each poem is a hidden message to add deeper meaning and understanding to Willow's story. A good read for students 9 and up. ( )

Diamond Willow is a young Athabascan-European girl living in Old Fork, Alaska. She is on a journey for independence when a tragic accident leaves her family’s lead mushing dog blind. She is reprimanded and in hopes of taking matters into her own hands to make things right, she makes friends with a surprising groups of friends (animals) that turn out to be her ancestors guiding her while learning some surprising facts about her family. Each diamond shaped paragraph reveals another hidden fact or interesting clue about her background. ( )

After reading this author’s book Keisha’s House, I immediately picked this up when I saw it on sale. I was not disappointed. Alternating between diamond-shaped poems, from the viewpoint of Willow, and from the viewpoint of her ancestors, the story takes the reader through the wild and frozen world of Alaska. Willow has spent her short 12 years under the knowledge that something isn’t right about her and her life. But it takes a journey, a horrible accident, and a special dog for her to set things right.
The unique story-telling technique brings so much to this narrative. With just a few words, the authors draws in the reader, and creates an authentic world, full of magic, sorrow, and redemption. I particularly enjoyed the First Nations mythology that is woven into the story. It gives this book a spirit and soul.
I highly recommend this book, particularly for late elementary and middle grade readers. It is an excellent introduction to story-thru-poetry. Also, SPOILER: No animals die. ( )