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The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond
Coretta Scott King Honor winner Brenda Woods’ moving, uplifting story of a girl finally meeting the African American side of her family explores racism and how it feels to be biracial, and celebrates families of all kinds.
Violet is a smart, funny, brown-eyed, brown-haired girl in a family of blonds. Her mom is white, and her dad, who died before she was born, was black. She attends a mostly white school where she sometimes feels like a brown leaf on a pile of snow. She’s tired of people asking if she’s adopted. Now that Violet’s eleven, she decides it’s time to learn about her African American heritage. And despite getting off to a rocky start trying to reclaim her dad’s side of the family, she can feel her confidence growing as the puzzle pieces of her life finally start coming together. Readers will cheer for Violet, sharing her joy as she discovers her roots.
Violet is a smart, funny, brown-eyed, brown-haired girl in a family of blonds. Her mom is white, and her dad, who died before she was born, was black. She attends a mostly white school where she sometimes feels like a brown leaf on a pile of snow. She’s tired of people asking if she’s adopted. Now that Violet’s eleven, she decides it’s time to learn about her African American heritage. And despite getting off to a rocky start trying to reclaim her dad’s side of the family, she can feel her confidence growing as the puzzle pieces of her life finally start coming together. Readers will cheer for Violet, sharing her joy as she discovers her roots.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
58 people are currently reading
1411 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Woods
24 books70 followersBrenda Woods was born in Ohio, grew up in Southern California, and attended California State University, Northridge. Her award-winning books for young readers include The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond (a CCBC choice and a Kirkus Reviews Best Book); the Coretta Scott King Honor winner The Red Rose Box; the ALAN Pick Saint Louis Armstrong Beach; and VOYA Top Shelf Fiction selection Emako Blue. Woods’s numerous awards and honors include the Judy Lopez Memorial Book Award, the FOCAL International Award, and the ILA Children’s Choice Young Adult Fiction Award. She lives in the Los Angeles area.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 290 reviews
July 29, 2016
Can we say precocious?! She's 11 year old mixed girl. Not much happens in terms of action, she simply connects with the other half of her family who is African American. Speaking to younger readers, with super short chapters that make for light reading. There is a strong emphasis on family connections and identity. Very politically correct and gently addressed racial issues without becoming offensive. Beautifully shows how a mixed person can feel part of no race. Someone mixed: to white people they look black. To black people they look white. Makes you wonder why and how that happens, and gives teachers/readers a safe way to speak on ethnicity. Although somewhat simplistic in nature, there is vocabulary to learn new words. Nice culture exposure, not only with African American, but her best friend is Greek and her sister speaks french. I genuinely liked it as the first book I have ever read that's had a biracial person. (Which I now that I think about is strange. America called the "melting pot", doesn't have more books on people who have multiple races in them?)Only possible fault I could find is that it might be a little too simple? It more so caters to the 3rd/4th grade crowd. It says up to grade 7. I think thats because the deeper issues are under the surface, but only if you look for them.
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April 26, 2014I don't know. Cute and sweet, but with some characters who troubled me? But I guess they did so in a realistic way that is much like real people, so that's also good. Yes, this book is good because it's very realistic about the complexities of race and biracial-ness. But like, a white parent who constantly tells their mixed, black-appearing child that all people are of the human race and race doesn't matter (instead of talking about how even though race is a construct, it's still very real and something that child will have to deal with every day of his or her life) is doing their child a huge disservice. And there are many clueless, well-meaning white adults in this book who say things like that. You can't tell a black child that race doesn't matter, even though it doesn't matter when it comes to family and love and all that. You know?
Then again, the black grandmother knows what's up and is much better at talking about how she made mistakes when thinking about race, but also how race is very real, even though it's not real. You know?
Overall, Violet is a cute character who seems very much like a smart, energetic 11-year-old trying to figure this stuff out. And I do like the idea of the story, and I think Violet's relationship with her older sister, who is white, is spot-on right and lovely and heartfelt.
This is a sweet book that I would give to my sixth graders, probably, but it also made me sad, because reasons.
I wrote more about it here: http://mclicious.org/2014/04/26/the-b...
Then again, the black grandmother knows what's up and is much better at talking about how she made mistakes when thinking about race, but also how race is very real, even though it's not real. You know?
Overall, Violet is a cute character who seems very much like a smart, energetic 11-year-old trying to figure this stuff out. And I do like the idea of the story, and I think Violet's relationship with her older sister, who is white, is spot-on right and lovely and heartfelt.
This is a sweet book that I would give to my sixth graders, probably, but it also made me sad, because reasons.
I wrote more about it here: http://mclicious.org/2014/04/26/the-b...
July 23, 2014
Loved this book! Great book to read and discuss with your middle grader readers.
Violet Diamond is eleven years old, has a wonderful family, good friends and a lot of hobbies. But something in missing in her family. Her father died a couple months before she was born, and she has never met any of his family. Also, she struggles, because her mother and older sister are white; her father was black. Everyone in her family is fair skinned with light eyes. People are constantly giving her funny looks when they discover she is a part of the family and often ask if she is adopted. She then decides to reach out to her father's mother in hopes to learn more about her African American side of her family.
I just loved this book. It really opened my eyes to a lot of things. As a society there is still some tension between races and Violet gets it from both sides. One point in the book that stuck with me is when she noted in White culture she is seen as half black. In Black culture she is seen as half white. She felt like she did not belong in either world.
I loved Violet as a character. She was smart, spunky and full of ambition. I loved her family. Her mother, whom my heart just broke for losing two husbands, was a wonderful mom to her two girls. I liked Daisy, the big sister. And I loved Bibi aka Roxanne Diamond.
Not many books make me cry, but I teared up a couple of times in this book. Violet's voice was powerful, and this book had many wonderful vocabulary words that could be used in a lesson plan. Looking forward to reading more by this author!!!
Violet Diamond is eleven years old, has a wonderful family, good friends and a lot of hobbies. But something in missing in her family. Her father died a couple months before she was born, and she has never met any of his family. Also, she struggles, because her mother and older sister are white; her father was black. Everyone in her family is fair skinned with light eyes. People are constantly giving her funny looks when they discover she is a part of the family and often ask if she is adopted. She then decides to reach out to her father's mother in hopes to learn more about her African American side of her family.
I just loved this book. It really opened my eyes to a lot of things. As a society there is still some tension between races and Violet gets it from both sides. One point in the book that stuck with me is when she noted in White culture she is seen as half black. In Black culture she is seen as half white. She felt like she did not belong in either world.
I loved Violet as a character. She was smart, spunky and full of ambition. I loved her family. Her mother, whom my heart just broke for losing two husbands, was a wonderful mom to her two girls. I liked Daisy, the big sister. And I loved Bibi aka Roxanne Diamond.
Not many books make me cry, but I teared up a couple of times in this book. Violet's voice was powerful, and this book had many wonderful vocabulary words that could be used in a lesson plan. Looking forward to reading more by this author!!!
May 11, 2015
I loved this book. The characters were so captivating. You can't help but love them. Great life lessons to tajKe away from Violet's story.
February 8, 2021
10 year old daughter said it was the best books she’s ever read. Had to check it out.
June 18, 2016
For my Alternate book report, I chose to write a birthday list for Violet Diamond. I chose this alternate because Violet tells the reader many things about herself, her likes, and her activities. This gave me many ideas for gifts for her.
Violet, your 12th birthday is coming up! What would you like for your birthday?
I had a list of 30 things, but my mom made me cut it down to 10. Here is the list:
1. An iTunes gift card. I heard a lot of good old songs at my Bibi’s house. I want to get them and put them on my iPod. My favorite was Mashed Potato Time by Dee Dee Sharp.
2. A cat scratching post. Hazel is getting bigger and likes to scratch up the couch. I want to get her one of those scratching posts so my mom won’t get mad at her. I think the real problem is that she’s board, maybe you could get her a few toys too.
3. A new pair of ice skates. Yaz Kilroy says I need a new pair of ice skates. She’s right. My feet grew over the summer and it’s hard to land my axel when my feet hurt so badly.
4. A book about New York City. My Bibi is taking me to New York this summer. I want to know all about the best places to visit. Can you get me a book that tells me?
5. An African style dress. Bibi always wears a beautiful African style dress to her art exhibits. They are made with kitenge fabric. I would love to have one too. Then, I can wear it to her exhibits and look just like her.
6. A paint set. Although I don’t think I will ever be an artist like Bibi, she has taught me how to use a brush and paint a pretty good picture. I want to paint her a picture and give it to her when she visits me again.
7. A 500-page journal. My journal is almost full. I filled it with words I hadn’t heard before, lists of things, and my wishes. It’s time for me to get a new one. I know there are enough new words out there to fill another one, or two.
8. Moroccan argan oil. Bibi introduced me to this oil that keeps my hair soft but doesn’t leave it greasy. I love it. She even gave me a small bottle but I’m about to run out. I would really love a big bottle of it.
9. A new golf putter. I love going with Poppy to play golf. Putting is my favorite part. The last time we were out, I broke my putter. I could really use a new one so I don’t have to use Poppy’s.
10. A pair of Aviator glasses. I still think I could be a great pilot like Elizabeth Coleman. She was the first African American Female pilot. I think it would be cool to fly big planes that carry a lot of people. I want to wear aviator glasses so I can look like a pilot.
I can't wait for my Birthday!
Thank you,
Violet Diamond
Violet, your 12th birthday is coming up! What would you like for your birthday?
I had a list of 30 things, but my mom made me cut it down to 10. Here is the list:
1. An iTunes gift card. I heard a lot of good old songs at my Bibi’s house. I want to get them and put them on my iPod. My favorite was Mashed Potato Time by Dee Dee Sharp.
2. A cat scratching post. Hazel is getting bigger and likes to scratch up the couch. I want to get her one of those scratching posts so my mom won’t get mad at her. I think the real problem is that she’s board, maybe you could get her a few toys too.
3. A new pair of ice skates. Yaz Kilroy says I need a new pair of ice skates. She’s right. My feet grew over the summer and it’s hard to land my axel when my feet hurt so badly.
4. A book about New York City. My Bibi is taking me to New York this summer. I want to know all about the best places to visit. Can you get me a book that tells me?
5. An African style dress. Bibi always wears a beautiful African style dress to her art exhibits. They are made with kitenge fabric. I would love to have one too. Then, I can wear it to her exhibits and look just like her.
6. A paint set. Although I don’t think I will ever be an artist like Bibi, she has taught me how to use a brush and paint a pretty good picture. I want to paint her a picture and give it to her when she visits me again.
7. A 500-page journal. My journal is almost full. I filled it with words I hadn’t heard before, lists of things, and my wishes. It’s time for me to get a new one. I know there are enough new words out there to fill another one, or two.
8. Moroccan argan oil. Bibi introduced me to this oil that keeps my hair soft but doesn’t leave it greasy. I love it. She even gave me a small bottle but I’m about to run out. I would really love a big bottle of it.
9. A new golf putter. I love going with Poppy to play golf. Putting is my favorite part. The last time we were out, I broke my putter. I could really use a new one so I don’t have to use Poppy’s.
10. A pair of Aviator glasses. I still think I could be a great pilot like Elizabeth Coleman. She was the first African American Female pilot. I think it would be cool to fly big planes that carry a lot of people. I want to wear aviator glasses so I can look like a pilot.
I can't wait for my Birthday!
Thank you,
Violet Diamond
May 2, 2018
Interesting plot, but the quality of the writing left something to be desired. Too much telling instead of showing, and the dialogue occasionally felt contrived. The insertions of French with immediate translations and the constant vocabulary lessons were obnoxious.
(Personal Pet Peeve: the author must not be very familiar with the Pacific Northwest. Those of us native to this area are quite proud of our ability to withstand the weather without needing an umbrella, and few - if any - own whole collections of them. Yes, I realize I'm being very picky.)
More like a 2.5, but I decided to round up instead of down. Goodreads - seriously, half stars. It's time.
(Personal Pet Peeve: the author must not be very familiar with the Pacific Northwest. Those of us native to this area are quite proud of our ability to withstand the weather without needing an umbrella, and few - if any - own whole collections of them. Yes, I realize I'm being very picky.)
More like a 2.5, but I decided to round up instead of down. Goodreads - seriously, half stars. It's time.
September 22, 2019
I really loved this book! It really explained a lot about racism to me, and it also had a very interesting view and perspective on biracialism. This is a beautiful story about family, forgiveness, a young girl's dreams, and the journey of rising above prejudice.
I highly recommend this book.
I highly recommend this book.
February 19, 2015
After reading the first book in the Land of Stories series, which is a NYTimes bestselling series and wildly popular with my students, I learned that books I might think are not well written might be just right for 10-11 year-olds.
For that reason, and because discussions around race and culture are common in my very multi-cultural classroom, I think this book is going to make the rounds like wildfire.
The heart of this story is a biracial girl who is exploring what it means to be half black in a white community, half white in a black community, and 100% herself and loved by both sides of her family.
For that reason, and because discussions around race and culture are common in my very multi-cultural classroom, I think this book is going to make the rounds like wildfire.
The heart of this story is a biracial girl who is exploring what it means to be half black in a white community, half white in a black community, and 100% herself and loved by both sides of her family.
September 13, 2014
This book makes me want to hug on my sweet Mimi so much. I really relate to the bond between grandmothers and granddaughters- something about skipping a generation that really makes two people cosmically connected.
I loved the treatment of race in this book as well. I loved the beautiful language that incorporated new language in a kid-friendly way without being heavy handed or relying too much on an obnoxiously precocious narrator as so many books do.
I loved the treatment of race in this book as well. I loved the beautiful language that incorporated new language in a kid-friendly way without being heavy handed or relying too much on an obnoxiously precocious narrator as so many books do.
June 14, 2016
I really wanted to like this because I think the message was important, but it was so saccharine and boring.
March 10, 2019
My pleasure to meet delightful Violet Diamond and experience the beginnings of her blossoming universe!
February 24, 2014
Brenda Woods deals with a challenging topic quite well. Violet is a biracial child who only knows her mother's side of the family. She is in for all manner of surprises when she is allowed to know her father's side of the family. I LOVE the fact that Violet characterization from beginning to end "blossoms" as she does all these things to "fit in" with her mother's side of the family. Her mother feels that by teaching her African American history, etc---Violet is suppose to be 'above' confusion and have a firm acceptance in her half identity of 'who she is.'
Both parts are suppose to equal a whole complete person. Sadly, the confusion her mother experiences (as well as Violet) is the same as other biracial children I know have experienced.
Let me speak from 'direct observation.' I grew up with a family who was biracial and only knew one side of their family. [Similar story to the book his family did not approve of her and she was scared of his family---granted this was after race riots early 70s] The kids dealt with belonging issues all of their life---since we were there only exposure to their AA side. Once the dating started one sister's Caucasian features were more dominated than the other sisters and would always come back with surprise stories when she brought guys home to meet her father. Needless to say, one sister married an AA man because she felt "more comfortable" due to her features and not being around part of her culture and the other sister married Hispanic because she felt he could "understand her to more of a degree..."
That being said you could sympathize with Violet for wanting to "fit in" or when she admitted to liking the belonging she felt with her friend Yaz's family. I want to make claims---it's 2014 people should not be this ignorant...yet, I have a library media specialist who has a grandson with a friend struggling with depression from being the only biracial kid in class and not fitting in. If anything----the Cheerios commercial should tell us we are not past anything. :P I also want to say this book does not go with just with being half black/white----it is also the same for white/asian, etc. I've known plenty of women asked all the time with their baby---"oh, what part of Asia was he adopted from?" These are not just "old" people----I will try not to get started on my black rage soap box.
Let's get back to the book! Once Violet was introduced to her father's side of the family---and while she is happy that physically they resemble her, (her grandmother is impressed at how much of her African heritage she does know/research) she is also in for a rude awakening from the other members of the Diamond family because no matter which side you are on there will always be discussion, looks, comments about [this time] her white side.
Where does that leave Violet? She is a part of everything---and yet nothing. The author does a great job with adding diverse amount of secondary characters, and addressing issues that in the melting pot of America still are not fully addressed.
I'm fully AA and I still get asked questions about "What I am, what I could be mixed with---and what percentage of AA am I?" This is from a majority of races---we haven't even gotten into speech vernacular. If I bring a future biracial child in the world---there is nothing to stop the stupidity of people: looking, asking questions, or assuming. I can though build a repertoire of books that can hopefully guide her to understanding that it is okay to belong to both worlds...love is a beautiful thing no matter the ethnicity. Hopefully that can quell against the storm of stupidity and ignorance.
To Violet that is the worst : The stupidity of people.
Both parts are suppose to equal a whole complete person. Sadly, the confusion her mother experiences (as well as Violet) is the same as other biracial children I know have experienced.
Let me speak from 'direct observation.' I grew up with a family who was biracial and only knew one side of their family. [Similar story to the book his family did not approve of her and she was scared of his family---granted this was after race riots early 70s] The kids dealt with belonging issues all of their life---since we were there only exposure to their AA side. Once the dating started one sister's Caucasian features were more dominated than the other sisters and would always come back with surprise stories when she brought guys home to meet her father. Needless to say, one sister married an AA man because she felt "more comfortable" due to her features and not being around part of her culture and the other sister married Hispanic because she felt he could "understand her to more of a degree..."
That being said you could sympathize with Violet for wanting to "fit in" or when she admitted to liking the belonging she felt with her friend Yaz's family. I want to make claims---it's 2014 people should not be this ignorant...yet, I have a library media specialist who has a grandson with a friend struggling with depression from being the only biracial kid in class and not fitting in. If anything----the Cheerios commercial should tell us we are not past anything. :P I also want to say this book does not go with just with being half black/white----it is also the same for white/asian, etc. I've known plenty of women asked all the time with their baby---"oh, what part of Asia was he adopted from?" These are not just "old" people----I will try not to get started on my black rage soap box.
Let's get back to the book! Once Violet was introduced to her father's side of the family---and while she is happy that physically they resemble her, (her grandmother is impressed at how much of her African heritage she does know/research) she is also in for a rude awakening from the other members of the Diamond family because no matter which side you are on there will always be discussion, looks, comments about [this time] her white side.
Where does that leave Violet? She is a part of everything---and yet nothing. The author does a great job with adding diverse amount of secondary characters, and addressing issues that in the melting pot of America still are not fully addressed.
I'm fully AA and I still get asked questions about "What I am, what I could be mixed with---and what percentage of AA am I?" This is from a majority of races---we haven't even gotten into speech vernacular. If I bring a future biracial child in the world---there is nothing to stop the stupidity of people: looking, asking questions, or assuming. I can though build a repertoire of books that can hopefully guide her to understanding that it is okay to belong to both worlds...love is a beautiful thing no matter the ethnicity. Hopefully that can quell against the storm of stupidity and ignorance.
To Violet that is the worst : The stupidity of people.
July 4, 2017
Review originally published 3 July 2017 at Falling Letters.
Earlier this year, my mom and I read Black Berry, Sweet Juice by Lawrence Hill, a non-fiction book which profiles the experiences of biracial Black Canadians. That book opened my eyes to the unique challenges biracial people can face. The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond explores those challenges from a middle-grade perspective.
This book focuses on Violet finding her space within both her White family and her Black family. There are brief yet important discussions about race. For example, when Violet mentions her Greek friend’s grandmother’s belief that ‘there is no race, just the human race’ and Violet’s grandmother responds, “It’s not so simple, Violet. White folks made the race laws in the first place, and our history is complicated” (pg. 165). Violet’s grandmother’s initial negative attitude to her son marrying a White woman is also addressed. There are other places that allude to debated issues on racial identity, but as Violet is just 11 years old and learning for the first time about what it means to be Black and biracial. She isn’t drowned in too much information and neither is the reader.
Early in the book (around page 50), Violet learns about the circumstances of her father’s death, which explains why Violet’s paternal grandmother doesn’t like Violet’s mother. In two short sentences, Woods reveals the awful truth. Violet yelling at her mother caused me to cringe. I can’t imagine what it would be like to learn that about your parent’s past. The backstory is pretty intense way explain the disconnect between Violet and her father’s family.
I think this would be a good book to ease kids into the concept of and challenges surrounding what it means to be biracial, as well as to start a discussion about coming to terms with a particular identity. A young adult novel featuring Violet as a teen would make an excellent follow-up, giving the opportunity to delve further into ideas that Woods briefly introduces in this book.
The Bottom Line: The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond features a spunky protagonist who learns what it means to be biracial. The book can serve as a good introduction to discussion about race and identity for younger readers.
Earlier this year, my mom and I read Black Berry, Sweet Juice by Lawrence Hill, a non-fiction book which profiles the experiences of biracial Black Canadians. That book opened my eyes to the unique challenges biracial people can face. The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond explores those challenges from a middle-grade perspective.
This book focuses on Violet finding her space within both her White family and her Black family. There are brief yet important discussions about race. For example, when Violet mentions her Greek friend’s grandmother’s belief that ‘there is no race, just the human race’ and Violet’s grandmother responds, “It’s not so simple, Violet. White folks made the race laws in the first place, and our history is complicated” (pg. 165). Violet’s grandmother’s initial negative attitude to her son marrying a White woman is also addressed. There are other places that allude to debated issues on racial identity, but as Violet is just 11 years old and learning for the first time about what it means to be Black and biracial. She isn’t drowned in too much information and neither is the reader.
Early in the book (around page 50), Violet learns about the circumstances of her father’s death, which explains why Violet’s paternal grandmother doesn’t like Violet’s mother. In two short sentences, Woods reveals the awful truth. Violet yelling at her mother caused me to cringe. I can’t imagine what it would be like to learn that about your parent’s past. The backstory is pretty intense way explain the disconnect between Violet and her father’s family.
I think this would be a good book to ease kids into the concept of and challenges surrounding what it means to be biracial, as well as to start a discussion about coming to terms with a particular identity. A young adult novel featuring Violet as a teen would make an excellent follow-up, giving the opportunity to delve further into ideas that Woods briefly introduces in this book.
The Bottom Line: The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond features a spunky protagonist who learns what it means to be biracial. The book can serve as a good introduction to discussion about race and identity for younger readers.
February 25, 2014
Originally poste here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond by Brenda Woods is a new acquisition at my local library that caught my eye. I checked it out despite the crazy amount of ARCs I currently have to review and was excited when I found a slot where I could actually slip it into the schedule. It is a heartwarming story of family and identity and I'm glad that I found it.
Violet is a typical MG age girl. She longs for a kitten, fights with and loves her family, enjoys spending time with her friends, and likes to ice skate (but is not overly ambitious about it or talented at it). All this makes her an easily accessible character for any reader. Her voice is strong and pulls you into the story right aways, making her sympathetic even if you have no way of identifying with her particular struggle. I found the way Woods set up Violet's conflicted feelings and struggle with her heritage to be believable and subtle. She does this by presenting different scenes where aspects of Violet's daily interactions, the prejudices and questions she has to deal with, are revealed clearly. Her frustration with it is palpable. This just makes her all the more relatable and her situation seem that much more important and real.
The plot is a slow one. This isn't a book with a lot of action. It is about a girl figuring out her place in her family and the world, and focuses more on character. What is nice, is that Woods doesn't drag it out. She keeps the prose, while beautifully worded in places, from being too philosophical or didactic. She tells her story in such a way that a reader in the target audience can maintain interest despite the lack of intense action. There are places where I found the prose to be a little awkward, particularly in certain conversations. Yet there are places where true brilliance shows through in the prose too.
This is a perfect book to give a reader who likes realistic fiction, particularly stores about friendships and family.
The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond by Brenda Woods is a new acquisition at my local library that caught my eye. I checked it out despite the crazy amount of ARCs I currently have to review and was excited when I found a slot where I could actually slip it into the schedule. It is a heartwarming story of family and identity and I'm glad that I found it.
Violet is a typical MG age girl. She longs for a kitten, fights with and loves her family, enjoys spending time with her friends, and likes to ice skate (but is not overly ambitious about it or talented at it). All this makes her an easily accessible character for any reader. Her voice is strong and pulls you into the story right aways, making her sympathetic even if you have no way of identifying with her particular struggle. I found the way Woods set up Violet's conflicted feelings and struggle with her heritage to be believable and subtle. She does this by presenting different scenes where aspects of Violet's daily interactions, the prejudices and questions she has to deal with, are revealed clearly. Her frustration with it is palpable. This just makes her all the more relatable and her situation seem that much more important and real.
The plot is a slow one. This isn't a book with a lot of action. It is about a girl figuring out her place in her family and the world, and focuses more on character. What is nice, is that Woods doesn't drag it out. She keeps the prose, while beautifully worded in places, from being too philosophical or didactic. She tells her story in such a way that a reader in the target audience can maintain interest despite the lack of intense action. There are places where I found the prose to be a little awkward, particularly in certain conversations. Yet there are places where true brilliance shows through in the prose too.
This is a perfect book to give a reader who likes realistic fiction, particularly stores about friendships and family.
July 22, 2015
This is my favorite out of all the Intermediate Nominees for the 2015-2016 Golden Sower Nominees. Violet Diamond's father was African American and her mother is Caucasian. Violet's father died in a car accident before she was born. Because her mother was the person driving the car, her grandmother blamed her for the accident which left her bitter towards the entire family. Violet has lived with her Caucasian mother, sister and grandparents her whole life. She goes to a school where only one other student is a different race. She feels as if she doesn't fit in. She is determined to learn more about her father and where he came from. She goes to visit her grandmother for a week. For once, she doesn't feel like the odd person out. She learns a lot about what makes a family and about herself. Biracial families are very common today, and I believe that this book can be very relatable for students. There were multiple culture exposures, not only with African American, but her best friend is Greek and her sister speaks French. Violet points out that in white culture she is seen as half black. In black culture she is seen as half white. She felt like she did not belong in either world. Many students probably feel this exact way.
Something else I thought was inspiring was all the different jobs that Violet could see herself doing in the future. She talked about possibly being a chef, a pilot and an author. She mentions how she doesn't want to be stopped from doing something in the future because of her race or her gender.
"Lately, I'd been imagining all of the boring nothing I was going to fill the summer with. If boredom was something you eat, I wondered, what would it taste like? Maybe like chicken broth when you're sick, mashed potatoes without gravy, or macaroni minus the cheese." (p. 4)
"'What is this 'biracial'?'
'It means she's two races...half black race and half white race,' Athena replied.
'Mrs. Matsoukis popped a cherry tomato in her mouth and chewed. 'Aren't we all human race, Violet?'" (p. 61)
Something else I thought was inspiring was all the different jobs that Violet could see herself doing in the future. She talked about possibly being a chef, a pilot and an author. She mentions how she doesn't want to be stopped from doing something in the future because of her race or her gender.
"Lately, I'd been imagining all of the boring nothing I was going to fill the summer with. If boredom was something you eat, I wondered, what would it taste like? Maybe like chicken broth when you're sick, mashed potatoes without gravy, or macaroni minus the cheese." (p. 4)
"'What is this 'biracial'?'
'It means she's two races...half black race and half white race,' Athena replied.
'Mrs. Matsoukis popped a cherry tomato in her mouth and chewed. 'Aren't we all human race, Violet?'" (p. 61)
May 8, 2014
This is a really wonderful and unique story about a young biracial girl who is trying to understand her history. Raised by a white mother and grandmother and living with her white half sister since her father died before she was born, Violet Diamond has always felt sort of out of place in her small Washington town. People give her looks when she walks down the street with her family, as if she were adopted, or someone else's child. Yet when she goes out with her friend Yaz, who is black, everyone thinks they are related, even though they look nothing alike. Confused about her own racial identity, she overhears her mother talking about her paternal grandmother, a woman she has never met. It turns out that when her mother had married her father, her grandmother had taken some exception to her son marrying a white woman. Despite the fact that her grandmother has never reached out to her before, Violet is determined to meet her. When she finds out that there is an showing of her artwork in Seattle, she begs her mother to attend. That decision will start Violet on a wonderful new journey of discovery, and may have been the decision that saves her grandmother's life. I picked up "The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond" for a couple of reasons. The story seemed really interesting and it had gotten some buzz online. I also believe strong that #WeNeedDiverseBooks. We need books such as this one, with that beautiful smiling child on the cover, especially in children's literature, especially in public libraries like mine. Just as Violet struggles to see herself in the people around her, many young children of color struggle to see themselves in the pages of the books they read. Librarians need to take active steps to collect books such as this one to provide necessary perspective to a field of children's literature that has been too long unbalanced.
November 21, 2013
Such a wonderful book! I'm so happy to see more and more books that depict a child with a biracial or bi-ethnic heritage. In the world of children's books this is a wonderful gain. As to the plot, please see the synopsis of the plot given by the publisher. My writing here is to express my thanks to the author for writing such a wonderful character, and a lovely book. Violet Diamond is such a big hearted, believable character. At every turn the subject of family is always treated with such love, whether that family is the European-American side or the African-American side or both. I find the adult characters to be loving, caring, and invested. I loved the warm, heartfelt writing, and Violet's character is lit up from within with love from both families. While this is so, the author doesn't shy away from addressing the difficulties that come Violet's way. In the end, I found it a fascinating journey, and while I am not a child of a biracial or bi-ethnic marriage, I think I understand what that might be like a little better now, for which I am very thankful. Books sometimes reaffirm who we are, and sometimes they are a bridge to knowing what it is like to be someone else. I feel that, for me, that this book did both very well. In Violet's European-American family I saw all the love that I have enjoyed. In her African-American family I found all the love that I could have had. Perhaps, in this world, it is the love that makes a family. In that case, Violet has all the love in the world that she needs, times two! Many, many thanks to Brenda Woods!
July 25, 2014
I agree with some of the other reviewers. The author gets lots of points for a great topic. Mixed race girl, whose father died before she was born, wants to feel connected to both sides of her background and struggles with feeling half white, half black, and never whole. There is plot tension in that her father's only surviving parent, her Africa-American grandmother, never accepted her white daughter in law and blames her for her sons death. However the writing could be tighter and there is too much telling and not enough showing. Decade long feuds are resolved in minutes and all adults and children are shown to be high-minded and ultimately open-minded and forgiving. Tragic events resolve and everyone gets back to the business of building a better universe for Violet Diamond. I liked the book but the easy resolutions rang false, and I fear it does a disservice to child readers. That said I appreciate the positive role models and an opportunity for kids to explore the tensions that arise in a both blended and mixed families. ( which is pretty much every family.)
March 9, 2016
Violet is a typical 11-yr old girl. She lives with her mom, sister, and grandparents in a suburb of Seattle. Her father died before she was born. Her father was black and her mom, half sister, and grandparents are white. Like any middle-school girl, Violet begins to struggle with her biracial identity, especially because everyone around her is predominantly white. This starts her off on her journey to find out more about her African American heritage. After doing some digging, Violet finds out that her paternal grandmother is an artist and is having an art show nearby. She decides to go to the art show with her mother to meet her grandmother. This is a heartwarming story about how a girl and her estranged grandmother come together to start putting the missing pieces of Violet’s identity back together to embrace her diversity. This is a great book, not only for biracial girls, but for any middle-schooler who is coming into her own. I would recommend this book for grades 4-6.
January 8, 2017
The premise of this is story was one that interested me and I was excited when I began reading it. But sadly, the writing left a lot to be desired. Honestly, I know high school students who could write circles around this author. What's one of the first things we tell our students when we teach them about writing a story? Show not tell. I think the author needs to revisit that lesson. The whole book was dialogue, dialogue, dialogue, tell, tell, tell, a smidgen of showing, then some more telling and dialogue, lots more telling, more dialogue, maybe a little more showing. It was like reading a 3rd grade girl's diary, with lots of pages of this-we went to the store and bought some cool clothes and then we had a nice lunch and when we got home Bibi (what Violet calls her grandmother) said she needed to take a nap and I talked on the phone with my mom and told her what we did today, then Bibi got up and we made dinner. It was painful to read, and boring too.
June 18, 2016
Violet Diamond is a biracial 11 year old girl whose mother and sister are white and whose father was black. Her father died before Violet was born, and she has never met anyone from the African-American side of her family. She feels that a big part of her life is missing and she wants to know more about her father's side of the family. When Violet finally gets the chance to meet her grandmother, she goes to stay with her for a few days and finds out many things about her father that she never knew.
The unique viewpoint of a biracial girl is well-done and much needed in children's literature for this age group. The characters were well-drawn and believable and the story was interesting with short chapters and enough tension to keep the plot flowing along. A good choice for middle grade readers.
The unique viewpoint of a biracial girl is well-done and much needed in children's literature for this age group. The characters were well-drawn and believable and the story was interesting with short chapters and enough tension to keep the plot flowing along. A good choice for middle grade readers.
June 21, 2017
Brenda Woods has written a moving story of a young girl's quest to understand her biracial heritage. Young Violet Diamond bravely decides to find out about her late father's family by reaching out to her artistic African American grandmother, Bibi. With an authentic narrative voice, Woods has created a beautiful family dynamic with Violet getting honest and loving answers to some heartfelt questions. The relationship between Violet and Bibi was especially touching and definitely had the reader wanting more. A beautiful celebration of cultural identity and diversity.
September 19, 2017
GRL - T
DRA - 50
Lexile 670
This book moves at a good pace and is a very good realistic contemporary fiction. It talks about topics relevant to many youths today.
Themes:
Loss (her father died)
Blended families
growing up biracial
fractured families (she has never met her grandmother on her father's side)
A very refreshing aspect of this book is that it attacks difficult topics and feelings head on. It doesn't dance around the issue or draw it out. Characters ask difficult questions and the main character Violet is honest and truthful in her answers.
Overall a good read.
DRA - 50
Lexile 670
This book moves at a good pace and is a very good realistic contemporary fiction. It talks about topics relevant to many youths today.
Themes:
Loss (her father died)
Blended families
growing up biracial
fractured families (she has never met her grandmother on her father's side)
A very refreshing aspect of this book is that it attacks difficult topics and feelings head on. It doesn't dance around the issue or draw it out. Characters ask difficult questions and the main character Violet is honest and truthful in her answers.
Overall a good read.
June 8, 2015
I absolutely loved this book. I was hooked from the first and loved reading from the viewpoint of a biracial girl. The pacing was perfect with just enough mystery and drama to keep this sweet realistic fictional read moving forward. As a sixth grade teacher, I would recommend this to so many of my students in a snap.
September 9, 2018
A sweet, soft addition to the conversation around what it means to be black in white spaces. There's not a lot here that will challenge black or brown readers, but I'm sure some young people will enjoy recognizing elements of their own experiences in the novel, perhaps most specifically the food. Woods writes fun and spot-on characterisations of African American aunties and cousins.
June 12, 2015
4.5 stars. Just when the story may start to drag there's a twist that keeps you wanting to know more. Really enjoyed reading an original story, yet one that many kids in today's world could relate.
May 19, 2014
*************Spoiler Alert************
Do you ever think how it would be not knowing anything about one side of your family? Well in this Realistic Fiction novel, Violet only knows her moms side of here family but not her dads side of her family. I really loved reading this book because it teaches you that even though if a part if your family doesnt know you, they will be willing to meet you and spend time together. I really enjoyed reading this book so much because it also teaches you that no matter what happened in the last a person can always change in the future.
This book is about a girl named Violet that is biracial and she lives with her mom and sister and her grandparents from her moms' side, and her dad died when her mom was driving and made a U turn and crashed and after that Violets' grandma from her dad's side Roxanne never got in touched with Violet and she pretended like Violet didnt exist, but one day Roxanne and Violet spend a few weeks togeter in L.A. and they go on adventures and Violet gets to meet her dads side family. Violet really got close to her Bibi (Bibi means grandmother in Swahili) after the trip Violet got sad because she wasnt going to see Bibi in a while and she was going to miss her a lot. The setting of this book is in Moon Lake close to Seattle, Washington and Los Angeles. Violet wanted to meet her dads' side family but she couldnt that well because Roxanne (Bibi) wouldnt talk to Violet's mom Justine so one day Roxanne (Bibi) was in Seattle,Washington at her art show and they decided to go and when they got there it was a bad day because Roxanne pretended like they werent there, then after the art show Roxanne went to the hotel where Violet and her mom were staying and they hanged out an then Violet was invited my her Bibi (Roxanne) to L.A. And Violet ended up staying there for about 3 weeks there and when she had to leave he got super sad because she wasnt going to see her Bibi in a long time. The Conflict of this book is Person vs Self because Violet thought that her grandma from her dads' side didnt care about her and she was mad at her grandma for not being in touch with her granddaughter. It was all the opposite because since Violets dad died Roxanne has been in like a rehab for people with serious depression and she wanted to get better so she can meet her granddaughter and spend time that was lost. Violet is insecure of her ears and her skin and she likes keeping a notebook where she writes words that he doesnt know what they mean, she is biracial her mom is American and her dad was African American so her skin is dark and she has curly hair. Justine is Violets mom and she works as a doctor for children and she is responsible for the death of Violets dad. Daisy is Violets older sister and they get along really well and she studies French with her boyfriend Wyatt. Roxanne is Violets grandma from her dads side and Violet calls her Bibi which is grandma in Swahili and she is famous for her paintings (in the book) Violet reminds her of a lot of her son Warren (V's dads name) she loves V a lot (Violets family and friends call her that.) Athena is Violets best friend and she is from Greek.
I was surprised when I read that Violets dad died because it was unknown how he died until Justine told Violet the truth. I was angry when I found out that Roxanne was mad at Justine because it wasnt Justine's fault that the U-turn went wrong. The Character Violet changed because she was super shy, but when she came back from L.A. she wasn't that shy anymore I think she wasn't that shy anymore at the end because she met new people everyday that she was in L.A. I was satisfied when Roxanne decided to offer Violet a week im L.A. because Violet thought Bibi was mean and didn't care about her and that proved a little bit that she did care about Violet. I wish that the author would of added another 2 chapters of the book because I really loved the book and it was interesting reading about something that can actually happen to a person.
I liked how the author made Violets personality, for example her personality was shy, warm to others in the story she hanged out with her cousin that she doesn't like and she was being nice to him even though he's annoying. Justine is also nice because in the book she forgives Roxanne even though Roxanne treated her bad, for example Roxanne never talked to Justine since Warren's funeral. If I was Violet I would like to know about my other part of my family no matter what. It would be sad that I wouldn't want to get to know my other part of my family because they are also my family, and family is family. This book teaches that people can change throughout months or so, for example when Roxanne didn't talk to Justine nor Violet but then actually bonded the three of them and Roxanne showed V and Justine that she changed a lot. This is the first time that Ive read this type of book, that talks about being Biracial and not knowing a side of the family so any thoughts maybe comment. The connections that this novel would be related to my life is that my parents are divorced and I really don't spend a lot of time with my dad and my family from my dads side.
In conclusion, I thought this was an amazing book because in the book it said that everyone at the end of the day are regular human, and that exists in the perfect world. In reality everyone is mean to each other, when no one should be judged at all because we are all humans at all the end of the day and it can hurt peoples feelings. I rate this book a 9 out 10 because I think at the end it should have about 2 more chapters because I want to know what happened with Bibi after her heart attack. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes to read new things. If you know someone that doesn't know a side of their family then give them advice on why to talk to them and bond together because it might not show but the family misses you. So next time you spend time with your family think how it would hurt not knowing your family.
March 13, 2016
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I was hoping to enter it for the The Seasonal Reading Challenge here on GoodReads, but it fell below the required AR qualifications and I wondered why seeing how the book was about a biracial 11-year-old trying to learn about herself and to fit in. That seemed to me like it should rank higher on the AR list. Having since read the book, I now understand why it is not. It is written in a really simplistic way. It feels like it is written for a group of kids younger than who this should be directed at.
So, the book is about Violet, an 11-year-old girl, who has an African-American father that died two months before she was born and a white mother. She lives with her white mother, her white sister (from a previous marriage), and her two white grandparents who are always popping in and staying over to help out. The town she lives in is mostly white as is her school. Her family loves her and she loves them, but she always feels like she doesn't fit in. When she is out in public with them, she always sees the question marks in peoples' eyes trying to figure out the puzzle, because she looks black. And when white people see her, they see her as black. She also doesn't know any members of the black side of her family. Her grandmother purposefully shut her out of her life. Due to a series of events, Violet gets to meet her grandmother, amends are made, and gets to stay with her for a week. While with her grandmother, she meets other members from that side of her family. And while that is fantastic for her, and she feels that she is filling in the missing puzzle pieces of her life, she also learns that some black people see her as white. And a lot of the story is about her trying to figure out how to self-identify.
Now, since I'm a white person, I can't say whether or not this stuff would or should ring true to a biracial person, but it does seem to ring true to some of the blogs, open letters, and Facebook posts written by biracial people that I've read. I think it is a good book to recommend to children so they can learn from perspectives other than their own.
Now to my complaints that most kids probably wouldn't have, but as a 31-year-old woman, I do have. Violet's immediate family seem to have no real memory of their life before Violet's father died. We are told in the beginning of the book that Violet's sister Daisy's white father died of cancer when Daisy was two. And then Violet's father who adopted Daisy and loved her as his own died when she was six. Daisy essentially had two fathers die on her and she most likely can't remember her biological father. But when Violet struggles with the absence of her father, Daisy never mentions her struggles. And it never even occurs to Violet or anyone else in the family that maybe Violet could talk to Daisy about it. Also, Violet's mom has lost two husbands tragically in the span of 4 years. How horrible is that. And I do get it that this is Violet's story and its told from her perspective, but I just kept thinking about her mom.
And then there is some of the stuff about how her white family doesn't know how to take care of her black needs. I know why some of this was in the book, but I feel like it could have been written better, because it really makes her mom seem like a horrible person. Violet needs special products for her hair and skin. Her mom has apparently googled for info, but none of the stuff she has come up with has worked as well as the stuff her one black friend helped her get or the stuff her grandmother helped her get which was even better. Like woman! How hard is it to get your butt to a black beauty salon and ask some questions. Or ask that one black friend that you have Thanksgiving with every year. I get why some of this was in the book. It was to show the disconnection that she sometimes feels with her family. But Violet is 11, how have they not figured this out yet? I feel like this could have been handled better. Also, I feel like Daisy's grandparents from her father's side could be better people. (This is such a tiny part of the story, and its such a non-thing, but I totally picked up on this immediately.) There are references to how Daisy's grandparents send her birthday cards and invite her to come stay with them during Christmas or the summer and Violet is sad cause she doesn't have that with another grandparent. I know that this is in there as well to show Violet's lack of a connection with her father's side of the family, but I just kept thinking that Daisy's grandparents are horrible. I get that Violet isn't their grandchild, but she is your grandchild's sister, and her father raised Daisy as his own, they could at least send Violet a birthday card. I feel like this could be written better in the sense of "Daisy's grandparents are really nice people and they send me birthday cards and Christmas presents, but its really not the same." I do think that this was done with no ill intent. Violet's people are really lovely, but I just found these to be unfortunate choices.
Violet is also a lover of new words. She would write in her notebook every time she learned a new word. I personally felt that this was overdone. It was clearly a technique to teach young readers new words which is great, but I don't need her to go, "what's that mean?" every five pages.
Also there was a weird obsession with wishes. People kept trying to get Violet to differentiate wishes from prayers, but really in the context of this story, it doesn't even matter. It was like the author was skirting around addressing religious issues.
So, the book is about Violet, an 11-year-old girl, who has an African-American father that died two months before she was born and a white mother. She lives with her white mother, her white sister (from a previous marriage), and her two white grandparents who are always popping in and staying over to help out. The town she lives in is mostly white as is her school. Her family loves her and she loves them, but she always feels like she doesn't fit in. When she is out in public with them, she always sees the question marks in peoples' eyes trying to figure out the puzzle, because she looks black. And when white people see her, they see her as black. She also doesn't know any members of the black side of her family. Her grandmother purposefully shut her out of her life. Due to a series of events, Violet gets to meet her grandmother, amends are made, and gets to stay with her for a week. While with her grandmother, she meets other members from that side of her family. And while that is fantastic for her, and she feels that she is filling in the missing puzzle pieces of her life, she also learns that some black people see her as white. And a lot of the story is about her trying to figure out how to self-identify.
Now, since I'm a white person, I can't say whether or not this stuff would or should ring true to a biracial person, but it does seem to ring true to some of the blogs, open letters, and Facebook posts written by biracial people that I've read. I think it is a good book to recommend to children so they can learn from perspectives other than their own.
Now to my complaints that most kids probably wouldn't have, but as a 31-year-old woman, I do have. Violet's immediate family seem to have no real memory of their life before Violet's father died. We are told in the beginning of the book that Violet's sister Daisy's white father died of cancer when Daisy was two. And then Violet's father who adopted Daisy and loved her as his own died when she was six. Daisy essentially had two fathers die on her and she most likely can't remember her biological father. But when Violet struggles with the absence of her father, Daisy never mentions her struggles. And it never even occurs to Violet or anyone else in the family that maybe Violet could talk to Daisy about it. Also, Violet's mom has lost two husbands tragically in the span of 4 years. How horrible is that. And I do get it that this is Violet's story and its told from her perspective, but I just kept thinking about her mom.
And then there is some of the stuff about how her white family doesn't know how to take care of her black needs. I know why some of this was in the book, but I feel like it could have been written better, because it really makes her mom seem like a horrible person. Violet needs special products for her hair and skin. Her mom has apparently googled for info, but none of the stuff she has come up with has worked as well as the stuff her one black friend helped her get or the stuff her grandmother helped her get which was even better. Like woman! How hard is it to get your butt to a black beauty salon and ask some questions. Or ask that one black friend that you have Thanksgiving with every year. I get why some of this was in the book. It was to show the disconnection that she sometimes feels with her family. But Violet is 11, how have they not figured this out yet? I feel like this could have been handled better. Also, I feel like Daisy's grandparents from her father's side could be better people. (This is such a tiny part of the story, and its such a non-thing, but I totally picked up on this immediately.) There are references to how Daisy's grandparents send her birthday cards and invite her to come stay with them during Christmas or the summer and Violet is sad cause she doesn't have that with another grandparent. I know that this is in there as well to show Violet's lack of a connection with her father's side of the family, but I just kept thinking that Daisy's grandparents are horrible. I get that Violet isn't their grandchild, but she is your grandchild's sister, and her father raised Daisy as his own, they could at least send Violet a birthday card. I feel like this could be written better in the sense of "Daisy's grandparents are really nice people and they send me birthday cards and Christmas presents, but its really not the same." I do think that this was done with no ill intent. Violet's people are really lovely, but I just found these to be unfortunate choices.
Violet is also a lover of new words. She would write in her notebook every time she learned a new word. I personally felt that this was overdone. It was clearly a technique to teach young readers new words which is great, but I don't need her to go, "what's that mean?" every five pages.
Also there was a weird obsession with wishes. People kept trying to get Violet to differentiate wishes from prayers, but really in the context of this story, it doesn't even matter. It was like the author was skirting around addressing religious issues.
February 26, 2021
A well and gently written novel that deals with race, identity and family for the tween to early teen through the narrator who is a biracial child. Violet is inquisitive and real who wants to find out more about her African American heritage through her grandmother.
The focus is on people connecting, be it family or friends, love and forgiveness. There is some conflict--there wouldn't be much of a story if there wasn't some--and people are not perfect which makes it more realistic. Some may find the weighty matters of race and the attitudes of people about it are too simple in this story, but it is a stepping stone for discussion and older kids will pick up on the deeper nuances that are present in the book.
I thought it was very well done weaving in many deep subjects but still hopeful and funny.
The focus is on people connecting, be it family or friends, love and forgiveness. There is some conflict--there wouldn't be much of a story if there wasn't some--and people are not perfect which makes it more realistic. Some may find the weighty matters of race and the attitudes of people about it are too simple in this story, but it is a stepping stone for discussion and older kids will pick up on the deeper nuances that are present in the book.
I thought it was very well done weaving in many deep subjects but still hopeful and funny.
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