Release Date:February 12th 2008
Source: Bought
Age Range: 4-12
Tinh is a boy growing up in post-war Vietnam in a poor village. His father has a new boat made from bamboo. Every day, Tinh heads out to sea with Ba, his father, to catch fish for their family and the market. Tinh is also naturally spiritual. He has a deep love and respect for his ancestors, the Buddha and especially Phat Ba Quan Ahm (known in Chinese as Quan Yin) 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. He enjoys going out to sea with his father every day, but he is starting to miss flying kite with his sister Lan
But then, one day when they are out fishing with the whole family, a huge cyclone strikes, driving the fishermen from the water and ravaging much of the poor village. All the men and boys struggle to secure the fishing boats on the beach. 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. And then a giant wave pushes the boat into a nearby tree…
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 Buddha's Diamonds is inspired of childhood memories by one of the authors, Thây Phâp Niêm. I loved Carolyn Marsden's other Vietnam themed book for children (When Heaven Fell) so I had to check out this one too. I think it's great book to introduce young readers into the Vietnamese culture Gives a good portrayal of the life of a poor fishing village in Vietnam. The storyline was good and the characters where very realistic. Recommended short read.
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