Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sweet tale of biracial girl in search of lost family.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Eleven-year-old Violet Diamond, a smart, funny kid growing up in the Seattle suburbs, is the child of two doctors. Her mom, a neonatologist, is white, as is her older sister; she's never known her dad, who died in a car accident when she was a baby, and his family has been absent from her life. When she discovers that her dad's mother, a renowned African-American artist, is having an exhibition in Seattle, she engineers a surprise meeting. Soon she's in Los Angeles for an extended visit with her grandmother, getting acquainted with her dad's side of the family, and having new experiences, ranging from going to Disneyland to attending the Holy Trinity First Baptist Missionary Temple of Los Angeles.
Is It Any Good?
THE BLOSSOMING UNIVERSE OF VIOLET DIAMOND offers appealing characters and an interesting exploration of quests for self-discovery. Some plot devices seem a bit too convenient (for example, Violet's long-estranged grandmother suddenly has a change of heart), but Violet's narrative voice is hard to resist, and author Brenda Hughes describes the sights and sounds of Southern California with the affectionate knowledge of a true local. The book's predominant message is one of love, friendship, and family ties, but along the way it delves into some subjects that may spark some discussion, from religion and prayer to the whole issue of "race" and what definition of yourself you're willing to settle for.
"Human race comes in many colors. This word 'biracial' is silly talk," says the Greek grandmother of Violet's BFF. But Violet's black grandmother says, "In a perfect world, we are all flesh and blood, the same species, one race, the human race. But this isn't a perfect world and most people insist on holding on to the many-race concept. ... [I]n the eyes of most, even though you have a white mother, you are considered to be black."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why some people think "race" is an issue, and others think there's only one race, the human race. What do you think? Do any of the characters here give you a different perspective?
If you had a chance to visit Seattle or Los Angeles, what places would you visit and what fun things would you do?
Do you have relatives you haven't met? Do you think it would be fun to get to know them?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Family Life
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Nancy Paulsen Books
- Publication date : January 9, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 240
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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