| Title | : | The Diamonds |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0385735790 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780385735797 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 352 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 2009 |
Wrong move. The Diamonds don’t touch each other’s exes.
And just like that, Marni is jettisoned from Diamond to lower than Cubic Zirconia.
But Marni isn’t about to take her ouster lying down. She has dirt on the Diamonds, and she’s not about to go down without a fight. Everyone knows, the only thing strong enough to cut a Diamond is another Diamond.
Ted Michael is a literary agent and first time novelist. He lives in New York, New York.
The Diamonds Reviews
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Reviewing for SLJ... Mean Girls meets Gossip Girl meets Clueless, only doesn't measure up to any of those three!
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The Diamonds has a very clever premise. Beyond the always amusing friends turned enemies premise is the whole world of the court system and mock trial. I've definitely never read a book that involved the United States Constitution in such a way (or probably any way really)! I loved it! There are pieces of evidence (drawings, articles, rule lists) scattered throughout the book. It's really crazy to see the mock trial team turn into a huge after school event and basically take on a life of it's own away from the teachers' and Principal's eyes. The Diamonds basically controlled the whole student body from their perch in the "court room".
I loved this book! I could relate to coming to the realization that maybe your friend(s) wasn't as nice as you once thought they were once you were on the receiving end of their wrath. I like how Marni re-made herself a circle of friends and allies and learns to look beyond people's outward appearance or stereotype and get to know them for who they really are. I also thought her relationship with Head-Diamond Clarissa's ex-boyfriend, Anderson was really sweet. It seemed they had a real connection and I could understand why she would be willing to risk her friendship with The Diamonds for him.
There is also a lot of scheming and plotting in this book, it was great. I loved seeing how far everyone would go, and they went pretty far! I did wonder from time to time how teachers and the Principal could just allow this to go on, a little convenient if you ask me. There was one twist towards the end that I saw coming from miles away but I was sad to find out that I was right.
All in all, a great book full of scheming, laying down the law and high school politics! -
Not going to lie - wasn't expecting much from this book but it's actually a very intelligent, approachable take on the Constitution and government. I know, doesn't look like it, right? Fun + smart = winning combination.
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It was an ok book for me. I liked the idea of the mock trial at school but it still depicts the typical queen bee story.
I didn't like Marni at all, even after she became friends with the Stonecutters. She was still weak till the end. Her last conversation with Anderson about how he hurt her infuriated me. My favourite character was Boyd. He was so into-your-face kind of guy, I loved it.
Overall, it was an entertaining book but one that is read once then forgotten about. -
Every girl and even some boys at the private Bennington School on Long Island wishes to be a Diamond, but unfortunately for these wishers, there are only four Diamonds: ringleaders and model of perfection Clarissa, hilarious boy magnet Priya, übersmart Lili, and Marni. Marni doesn’t really know how she ended up among the ranks of the most powerful and popular girls at her school, but she wouldn’t trade being a Diamond for anything, because popularity makes everything easier. Unfortunately, it also makes life a lot harder when Marni becomes involved with Clarissa’s ex-boyfriend Anderson: when Clarissa finds out, she uses her Diamond authority to make Marni the most unpopular girl at Bennington overnight. When the remaining Diamonds transform Bennington’s mock trial club into the Diamond Court, a pseudo-justice system the Diamonds use to exact revenge on those who displease them, Marni finally has enough. She gathers an unruly, mismatched army to spark a revolution against the Diamonds’ reign of terror, but the odds are stacked against Marni because there’s only one way to cut a diamond—with another.
The Diamonds is not another guilty pleasure about spoiled rich private school girls in NYC like Gossip Girl or The Elite. I was afraid it would be and was not looking forward to another one of those series. This novel may start out something like that, with wealthy popular girls living the life, but the story quickly becomes more twisted. The Diamonds does have the necessary ingredients of a guilty pleasure, with power struggles and backstabbing galore, but the crucial inclusion of a democratic system elevates this novel above Gossip Girl and the like. Democracy is cleverly juxtaposed with the Diamonds’ perverted sense of justice and increasingly monarchial rule. It’s interesting to see how this high school scene plays out like a political battlefield. This made the story so thrilling and even a bit educational to read. Marni’s character was also enjoyable to read about as her struggles are quite realistic, but I was somewhat disappointed that the other Diamonds were so cold and cruel that they were no longer believable. This novel touches on many themes, such as social equality, love, and friendship, and although I felt some of these could’ve been expanded upon, The Diamonds was overall a very satisfying read and impressive debut.
This novel will appeal to both fans of guilty pleasures and those interested in democracy and justice, as well as those that enjoyed Poison Ivy by Amy Goldman Koss.
reposted from
http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com -
Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
Marni Valentine is a "Diamond." The Diamonds are the four girls who basically run Bennington School. The name developed when someone made a comment about their matching diamond necklaces when they were freshman.
Marni couldn't believe her luck when Clarissa took her into the fold. Being accepted by Clarissa brought instant popularity and acceptance. Which helped Marni, as she wasn't nearly as rich, smart, or pretty as the other three girls: Clarissa, Priya, and Lili.
The girls show they are true friends when they come to Marni's aid the day Marni's boyfriend, Jed, publicly dumps her over the morning announcements. During an AP Government class mock trial, Clarissa turns the table on Jed and his new girl, and soon the rest of the school is giving Jed and Darcy the cold shoulder. Because of their composure and confidence, their teacher, Mr. Townsen, suggests the girls join the Mock Trial team.
Before long, the Mock Trial team has turned into a mechanism that the Diamonds use to control the school. Fellow students are trying each other and the Diamonds create new rules that the administration unwittingly agrees with.
It isn't until Marni finds herself involved with Clarissa's ex-boyfriend that the full brunt of the Diamonds' power is turned against her. She is disowned by her friends and takes refuge with the most unlikely group of people, including her ex-boyfriend, Jed.
Marni tries to get the administration to realize that the Diamonds are up to no good, but she gets blown off and realizes that if she wants to remove the Diamonds and get the school back to normal, she'll have to do it herself, with her new friends.
THE DIAMONDS was a fascinating look into the inner workings of a private school. It shows the reader how a seemingly small idea can blossom and get out of control. Marni enjoyed being on the inside but it isn't until she's cast out of favor that she truly becomes a decent person. She learns that everyone has something positive they can contribute and not to judge others by outward appearances alone.
THE DIAMONDS is written as Marni's testimony on why she does what she does. It flows quickly and has entertaining moments. It's also scary to realize that situations like the ones in the story could actually happen if teens don't fight for what is right. -
The Diamonds was a fun, quick read. It really showed the dangers of popularity- one wrong and you're out. At first I wasn't sure it was going to be a great book, because I hated how Marni and "The Diamonds" got everything they wanted and got away with everything. When Marni got outed from the group she started to realize that being a Diamond wasn't the best thing afterall. She liked talking to people she normally wouldn't. Marni was a likable main character and her narration was personal and well written. Ted Michael proved that just because someone thinks they're the best- doesn't mean they are. Books about popularity and finding your self, etc, are very common lately, but I really liked The Diamonds because it seemed if not completely realistic, like something that could actually happen. The characters could be real people, and what happened to Marni could happen to anyone. Although, the mock trial system in the novel that the Diamonds controlled seemed like a crazy idea, it added another angle to the novel that I really liked. Overall, I probably wouldn't read it again, but I did enjoy reading it.
The writing style was easy to read and you could finish it pretty quickly, but the book contained everything it needed. The ending was satisfying and I felt I didn't need anything more, I wasn't left wondering what happened. Another nice aspect of this novel, was the first ten amendments on the top's of each chapter. It added another cool feature to the book. The first part of the book contained the real amendments, the second part had the amendments The Diamonds made up for their court. They were original and fun to read, although a bit outlandish. Another great part of the novel was the way the author emphasized how quickly things can get out of your hands when you're letting someone influence you like Clarissa did to Marni. Marni didn't even realize that Clarissa wasn't really the nice person she seemed. All in all, I liked the book and felt it was a great first novel- I'm looking forward to the author's next book.
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars -
I honestly expected a lot from The Diamonds because it looked pretty interesting. So imagine my disappointment when I found the plot extremely cliche, the characters pretty shallow and the overall average outlook of this novel.
The plot was the average friends turned enemies kind of book. Very middle-school like. However, I did enjoy the politics of the whole book - the mock trial with the jury and the judges and the attempt on bringing about justice in school. The fact is though that Clarissa and her followers are going about the wrong way and it's not until Marni gets kicked off that she realizes how "justice" really works.
I honestly didn't like Marni. She's extremely shallow and just not a very friendly girl. Like I said before, she didn't realize how mean her friends were to everyone until she got ditched like a piece of hot potato. And even then, she just wanted to ignore them and she didn't want to stand up to them until Tommy gave her the idea. She's smart obviously because she literally rewrote the Constitution to fit her mock trial purposes and it's not until she gets the courage does she finally use her smartness to bring real justice in her school.
Anderson, the reason Marni got kicked out of the Diamonds, was a jerk. At first, I thought he was a really sensitive and an overall awesome guy. But he's a coward. He betrayed Marni because he didn't want to become ridiculed anymore by his peers. And he didn't only betray Marni, he betrayed Marni's whole "motley" group and their whole plans.
Overall, I can honestly say that The Diamonds didn't meet up my expectations. However, if you enjoy reading about a whole new side of politics and school, you can check this book out. -
The Diamonds was actually a huge surprise for me. My expectations were not that high and my worry lines were there when I received it in the mail for review (which I had no idea was coming). The summary does not draw me in and seems a bit cliché and so done by so many series (which I have not read any—do not bother to ask why). And yet despite the foreboding I have grown myself attached to Marni and her “motley crew”. I need to stop judging books from the summary and cover alone...
The Diamonds reminds me of Mean Girls the movie, you know the one. Starring Lindsey Lohan and her sudden fame to her sudden drop—it’s the same in this case. Marni goes from being a Diamond to being a Stonecutter—a group of people who are trying to overthrow the Diamonds.
The politics was a nice surprise that added a bit of a spin to things. The mock trials were entertaining and the newsletter gave insight to some cases that sped the plotline along—so it does not seem overly excessive and boring, keep things a novelty.
The overall progression between the two foes was planned out and nicely done. Giving some suspense here and there but nothing too out there there (my vocabulary has precipitated once it passes 10 PM). There were some predictable scenes and actions and I guess I have to mention, one giant backstabbed that I could have seen from page 50.
Overall: A nice and pleasant debut book from Ted Michael. Nothing too in your face but a nice read nonetheless. -
We all know about the queen bees of high school; however Ted Michael has created a unique story that is about more than just social hierarchies.
The best aspect of this book is the incorporation of law and the US Constitution in the dramatic events that unfold in The Diamonds. Broken into two parts, this book outlines the first 10 amendments (Bill of Rights) and the ten Diamond rules. Each is presented with multiple exhibits which consist of drawings, newspaper articles, and other information pertinent to the story.
In addition to the originality of the plot, The Diamonds introduces us to solid characters. In this novel, each character truly is an individual and plays a special role. Typically the mean girls are seen as shallow, but pretty. While there are a couple of dense girls in The Diamonds, they add humor to the book. Still, while reading the book, I noticed intelligence, strength, and a self discovery in Marni.
The combination of romance, politics, true friendship, and drama make The Diamonds one of the most creative novels of its time. I thought it was phenomenal, and I look forward to what Ted Michael has to offer us in the future! -
So I started this book a while back and I stop reading it whenever my series books came out and I finally decided to read it today, and finished it in one day. It was a quick read.
It reminds me a lot of the clique. I thought it had room for more and less in parts but considering the author is 1 year older than me and this is his first novel I give him a lot of props.
If you like the clique and gossip girl you might find this interesting the end was kinda a twist.
It's a nice lite read. -
Personally, I really enjoyed this book because I found the storyline very relatable and realistic even though the situation is very unusual and probably wouldn't happen to anyone in reality. I thought the subject was really different and I'd never read a book quite like that and it reminded me quite a bit of the movie Mean Girls, which is like, the most awesome movie ever! I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of things like Mean Girls and The Clique.
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I really hate this book. I would give it 0 stars if I could. It's nasty about girls. It's nasty about gay people. There's nobody to like. All the characters are jerks. I probably shouldn't rate it because I couldn't finish it. But I didn't finish it because it's so terrible. It wants to be Gossip Girl but it fails. Fail, fail, fail. Negative stars.
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From what I gathered on the back of this book I thought it'd be a really fun light read, but the further I got into this book I just felt like it was going downhill.
The writing was good, the book was funny but I didnt like the plot line very much. If Michael were to write another book I'd probably read it, sooner or later. -
Fast and easy to read, The Diamonds centers around the high school dramas of Marni Valentine and her group of friends. The "Diamond Court" rules the school, passing judgment alla "Mean Girls" and trashes lives and reputations in the process. The story is a bit predictable, with far too many pop-culture references, but all in all it was cute.
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This book had lured me in from the start. It's one of those cliched books but something about this was different and unique that I loved this book. Really enjoyable fast read. It is very very predictable but I loved the book. :)
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Worst. Administration. Ever. I don't even get how a clique like that would rise to such power and popularity in the first place. I do not recall beauty being a super rare commodity in high school, so when the girls are evil, who looks up to them?!
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YA book that was fun but it was Mean Girls for the generation that might have missed that. It wasn't as funny or as witty but it had it's moments. I think it started off stronger as having underlying satire than it ended with, which was disappointing but it was good quick read.
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Very funny book with really clever dialogue and quirky characters. Fun read!
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Review here:
http://booksaremylove.blogspot.com/20...
Love comments <3 -
read this book 2 years ago and i still remember most of the details. its a very unique and interesting book. LOVED IT!
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I very much liked this book. :) It reminds me of the movie "Mean Girls", the characters are so like them. <3
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I didn't hate it but it was a bit predictable. Also i found it a bit unrealistic i don't know do you have schools that can be so over run by just 4 girls?
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Super quick read. Reminded me of Gossip Girl.
