Diamond Park - Hardcover

Diederich, Phillippe

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0593354257 ISBN 13: 9780593354254

Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers, 2022

Synopsis

A fast-paced YA novel about four Mexican American teenagers from Houston, a '59 Chevy Impala, and a murder that changes their lives forever.

Flaco isn’t the kind of kid who gets in trouble. He doesn’t want to give his mom or his aunt Ana Flor any grief—they’ve had enough since his cousin Carlos died serving in Afghanistan. But he finds a whole lot more trouble than he bargained for when he and his friends Tiny, Magaña, and Susi ride the bus from their Houston neighborhood to Diamond Park to buy a used car. And not just any car—a 1959 Impala convertible, a dream car. The transaction gets complicated fast, and Susi ends up with a knife in her hands, covered in blood. When Tiny has to disappear to avoid ICE, Flaco and Magaña head south in the Impala to set things right. In a wildly impetuous move, the two boys cross into Mexico hunting for a trafficker named Anaconda, the man they believe is the real killer, to clear Susi’s name. In a breathtaking, seat-of-your-pants adventure they manage to kidnap him but in the process they discover how little they ever actually understood about what really happened in Diamond Park.

About this title

About the Author

Phillippe Diederich is a freelance photographer and writer. He is the son of Haitian exiles, and he grew up in Mexico City. He is a recipient of the PEN/Phyllis Naylor Working Writer Fellowship and the author of two previous novels, including the acclaimed novel Playing for the Devil's Fire, a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults pick. He lives in Florida.

Reviews

Gr 9 Up-It was supposed to be a quick trip to pick up their dream car, a 1959 Chevy Impala, from Magaña's godfather. High school seniors Flaco, Magaña, Tiny, and Susi leave Houston and head to Diamond Park. Flaco is cautious about this trip; he has been lost in his grief since the death of his beloved cousin, who died while serving in Afghanistan. After the boys get the car working, they are shocked to find Magaña's godfather has been murdered; holding a knife and covered in blood is Susi. Flaco sets out to prove Susi's innocence with Magaña; Tiny disappears so he won't be deported. They set out to find Anaconda, a dangerous trafficker whom they believe is the murderer. As they head to Mexico, danger and suspense fills the trip as they try to find Anaconda-either they capture him or end up dead. The Spanish and English dialogue stays true to the bilingual characters. This moving and fast-paced story at its core is about freeing a friend, but it's also about Flaco finding himself. This book showcases how so many teens feel in their desire to develop their sense of self and figure out what they want from life. A mixture of stereotypes, racism, poverty, and so much more are explored throughout the story, creating a rich and complex journey through culture, heritage, and finding the truth. VERDICT An important title displaying the complexities of Latinx culture and of finding a sense of self set against the backdrop of trying to catch a murderer, this story will keep readers on the edge with danger lurking behind every corner.-Katie Lleraα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Edition details

• Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0593354257
• ISBN 13: 9780593354254
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288