The Diamond Explorer

Gr 4-7–Malcolm is a Hmong boy, quiet and sensitive, who lives on the prairies of Minnesota with his family and has felt like he never really fit in with the world around him. Readers are introduced to Malcolm through the views of those closest to him—parents, sisters, brother, teachers. As he gets older, he feels more disconnected from his family and his place in it. After he witnesses a shaman ceremony performed on his sister, he starts to collect stories from family members about their ancestors. Thus begins his spiritual journey, walking between worlds. He finds himself living out memories of his family—things he has never seen or heard of before, with people he’s never met, experiencing their trauma alongside them. The shaman spirits of his ancestors are calling to him and it’s time to answer. This is a moving story about a boy longing to feel a connection to his family and his identity. Yang’s writing is beautiful, seamlessly transitioning from one character to another, and situations involving violence and death are handled with care.