School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-Funny, sardonic Violet Diamond is at the center of this engaging, lighthearted yet thought-provoking story in which she deals with the serious issue of her racial and ethnic identity. She lives in a predominantly white city-there are only two other biracial kids in her school-with her white mother, sister, and grandparents. Her African American father died in a car accident. Violet notices the questioning looks some people give her when her family is introduced. She would like to look more like the rest of her family, so that it would be more obvious to everyone that she belongs with them. Complicating matters is the fact that her mother is estranged from Violet's paternal grandmother. The opportunity arises for Violet to meet her father's mother and spend time with her and to also spend time with other members of her father's family. In the process, Violet comes to appreciate and fully embrace both sides of her heritage and blossoms into a girl who is happy and comfortable being just who she is. Sophia Johnson presents a very credible voice to a young, funny, and thoughtful girl.- Mary Oluonye, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.