Racing for Diamonds

Well, no one's exactly racing for diamonds, but it's a good grab to get the reader into the book. At age twelve, Jaz joins the Junior Canadian Rangers. She's short-tempered and immature and especially annoys her senior partner, a thirteen-year-old boy named Colly. In order to learn co-operation, the JCR Sergeant pairs them together to participate in the much anticipated dog-sled competition held on the Canol Trail. At the same time, a big news story hits the headlines involving Jaz's former neighbor, a man her father knows. This man is reported missing and may certainly have something to do with stolen diamonds. Colly and Jaz get lost in a snow squall during the Canol race, and find the wounded man who in turn kidnaps them, needing their sled and dogs for transportation through the wilderness. This exciting adventure in Northwest Territory reveals an ample slice of life of small town Canadian (winter) culture.

Reviewed by Anne Marie Medema (age 12) for Reader Views (4/08) Anita Daher cleverly weaves a story of intrigue, filled with danger and excitement. In the book "Racing for Diamonds," Daher writes a story with a theme and location she is familiar with. With descriptive vocabulary and flowing phrases, Daher makes the story come alive in the mind of the reader. Daher wrote in a way that causes the reader to anxiously turn each page to the end. "Racing for Diamonds" begins with our main character Jaz participating in a first-aid course. Jaz is training to compete in a dog sled race in Canada. In the race Jaz is paired with Colly, a master corporal. She and Colly start out in first place in the dog-sled race and go through several checkpoints still in the lead. Soon they meet up with Gunther, a diamond mine cleaner. Gunther pulls the dog team of Jaz and Colly aside. Gunther says he left town abruptly because his little boy named Luka was kidnapped by a Russian who wants all the diamonds. The three of them meet up with the Russian and Luka. It would be a fight, but fortunately the JCR Rangers approach in a helicopter looking for Jaz and Colly. The JCR Rangers rescue Gunther and Luka. The Russian is sent to prison. Colly and Jaz do not win the dog-sled race. But they do win Medals of Honor for rescuing Gunther and Luka. Jaz and Colly are highly praised and commended for their bravery by the JCR Rangers. I recommend "Racing for Diamonds" by Anita Daher. It is a story targeted for young readers who enjoy adventure and action. I enjoyed the setting of this story as it takes place in a part of North America I have never visited before. Also, it enlightened me about what it is like to participate in a dog-sled race. I liked how the author packed so much adventure into a small easy-read novel. Hitch yourself into "Racing for Diamonds," by Anita Daher, and get swept away into a snow-packed adventure.