Diamonds in the Rough

Dave Jenkinson is a professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba and the author of the “Portraits” section of Emergency Librarian.

Although Walters’s third young-adult novel returns to the theme of
troubled teens, he offers an immediate difference—a female
protagonist. Following the accidental death of her mother, 14-year-old
Sky Chambers assumes the maternal function and determines to keep the
“family”—sister Summer, 10, and half-sisters, Meadow, 7, and
Brooke, 3—together. When Sky deliberately misleads Joanne, their
social worker, about the whereabouts of the girls’ absent fathers, the
sisters are placed in three different foster homes. Surprisingly, Joanne
locates an uncle unknown to Sky: Cole Gray, a long-haired,
tattoo-sporting, Harley-riding biker and ex-con, seems like an unlikely
choice as the girls’ guardian.

Recognizing that Cole may be her only chance to unite her sisters, Sky
seemingly “bribes” Cole by dangling the pending insurance settlement
monies before him. At the guardianship hearing, the social work agency
argues that the girls should remain in foster homes. The judge, however,
rules that Cole will be given a three-month trial period. With Sky’s
help, Cole does his best and actually establishes a close relationship
with the three younger girls, but a cautious Sky suspects that his
regular evening absences mean he is still involved in illegal
activities. With the trial period almost up, the three younger sisters
are again apprehended by child welfare when Joanne finds them home
alone. The book’s open-ended conclusion leaves hope for readers
needing happy endings.

Strong in emotion and character, the novel reminds readers that judging
by external appearances may cause them to overlook “diamonds in the
rough.” Highly recommended.