Alias Diamond Jones

by Cristina Salat

Book Overview

In order to fulfill his dream of becoming a writer, Rob Baker adopts the pen name ""Diamond Jones"" and sets out to prove his talents, but his writing soon gets him into trouble. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0553372165
• ISBN13: 9780553372168
• Release Date: September 1993
• Publisher: Skylark Books
• Length: 103 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.2" x 7.6"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

A thoughtful look from a successful show

Much of the popularity from smash PBS show "Ghostwriter" came from its diverse cast of strong characters and ethnic and social tolerance. This book is told from the POV of Rob Baker, a member of the team spending summer working on his writing skills. With his skateboarding tricks and trendy headgear, Rob paints the stereotype of a brash punk-like teen. In truth, he's a shy, quiet, awkward, eccentric but thoughtful person. There's a lot of adolescent emotional conflict in this book. Rob's military-driven father is constantly moving the family around and doesn't seem interested in Rob's passion for writing. Rob's also upset that his deaf older brother Jason is spending the summer in Germany instead of his family. (He's used to confiding in Jason.) While he's grateful to have the Ghostwriter team to hang out with, Rob is worried that his dreams will be shattered if his family moves again. What's the point of making friends if you're just going to lose them? Then he decides to give himself the penname "Diamond Jones" and has a personal makeover with dark clothes and slicked-back hair to feel more professional. Rob's eagerness to prove himself is an old-time story for any teen with dreams but this one barbs the readers as much as him when Rob's stories don't impress his friends. Vietnamese-rooted Tina points out that her name of "Tinasan" sounds Japanese and Jamal doesn't like hearing that his friends are called "henchmen" just because they're "black." Frustrated with himself, Rob confesses to Ghostwriter that he doesn't believe friendship can last forever. "I DO", the enigmatic friend responds. Rob is given some wisdom for a poet about the importance of accurate research and proofreading. Rob also discovers the constant uphill struggle that all writers face in getting their work published. Rob's friends are also feuding over one another, questioning if they're more comfortable with their diverse team or with their own kind of people. This "Ghostwriter" book certainly has some food for thought. Throughout his summer experiences, Rob realizes that there's one thing he wants more than to be a good writer: to be a good friend.

Much better than you would expect from a TV tie-in

This is a really great and well written book. Although it's just a TV tie-in, it rises above it's source. This is one of the best children's books I've seen in a long while. Introduces kids to the joys and pains of writing.