The Buddha's Diamonds

As an older boy living in one of Vietnam's poor coastal villages, Tinh had reached an age when he could start helping his father with the fishing at sea. Not only did the fish provide the family with their main source of nourishment, it also served as their primary means of earning cash in the marketplace. Although Tinh felt happy to be entrusted with such an important responsibility, he also missed playing soccer all day with his friends and flying a kite with his sister. As a deeply spiritual boy, Tinh constantly questioned his own actions and motives. He wanted to do the next right thing, especially when it came to pleasing his demanding father, but he felt confused when the naïveté of childhood pulled him in the opposite direction. This conflict within grew to enormous proportions one day when a terrible cyclone struck while he and his father were out fishing. Instructed by his father to secure the boat after they made it back to the beach, Tinh became overwhelmed and left the boat to the mercy of the storm. Once the storm subsided, Tinh despaired at the wreckage left behind, his sister's injury, and his failure to meet his father's expectations. Based on a true story, The Buddha's Diamonds explores the spiritual awakening that Tinh experiences as he struggles to come to terms with the harsh realities of natural disaster, extreme poverty, and post-war conditions. The graceful text and meaningful lessons should place this book at the top of any list of multicultural books for middle-grade readers.

Ten-year-old Tinh lives in a small fishing village with his parents and younger sister. The rhythm of life is the rhythm of the sea, which provides sustenance for the villagers. Just this year Tinh has started accompanying his father in their boat to catch and net the fish that are eaten and traded for other foods and goods. Part of Tinh misses time spent flying kites with his sister Lan and playing soccer with his cousins, but he's a serious and hard-working boy, proud to be of use to his family and eager to earn his father's respect. Tinh is also naturally spiritual. He has a deep love and respect for his ancestors, the Buddha and especially Phat Ba Quan Ahm, the Vietnamese Bodhisattva of Compassion. He knows that her many arms protect him and others at sea and that her name will comfort him when he's scared. Tinh's faith and maturity are put to the test one day when a terrible storm comes, driving the fishermen from the water and ravaging much of the poor village. As the men and boys struggle to secure the fishing boats on the beach, Lan is injured, cut by a piece of metal trying to rouse Tinh, who is laying afraid on the sand. He finally gets up and sees his parents rushing his bleeding sister off, his father yelling at him to make sure the boat is tied up. Tinh is surrounded by chaos, and there's no one to help him. He's alone and terrified, but he's also scared of disappointing his father and losing the family boat. When a giant wave pushes the boat into the trees, Tinh runs for his hut. The family huddles together during the worst of the storm, praying before the home altar. When the next day dawns, the village is in shambles, his sister is taken to the doctors and the boat is discovered, damaged underneath a pile of other boats. Tinh now must gather his strength and act like the young man his family expects him to be by helping to fix the boat and finding food for them. His uncle gives him a small carved Buddha; this, plus his faith in Phat Ba Quan Ahm, gives him the courage and inspiration to do what he has to in order to help his loved ones. The storm is a turning point for Tinh as his faith and thoughtfulness are rewarded. THE BUDDHA'S DIAMONDS is the story of a young Buddhist facing his first adult responsibilities in the face of adversity. Though Tinh's prayers and rituals are specific to his religion, the themes of faith, filial obligation, trust and growing up are universal. Carolyn Marsden and Thay Phap Niem also subtly inject into this short novel the emotional and physical effects that the war in Vietnam had on rural and coastal villages like the one in which Tinh lives. Devastation can come from humankind or nature, but faith and responsibility, they suggest, are constants and are able to help one weather the storms, proverbial or actual. The writing in this book is lovely. The story is poignant and thought-provoking, not to mention a fine introduction to Vietnamese culture and religion. A glossary and an author's note at