Toads and Diamonds

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girasolace, July 11, 2011 (view all comments by girasolace)

A very interesting riff off the old fairy tale. In this version, set in an alternate India during the Mughal Empire, sister and step-sister are both blessed by the goddess Naghali-ji, whom they encounter at the community well: from Diribani's mouth come flowers and jewels when she speaks, and from Tana's lips spring the lucky frogs and useful, rat-eating snakes the villagers value so highly. Still, both blessings can be awkward, and the girls follow separate and often difficult paths in their quests to understand how the goddess means them to use their gifts. The sense of place in rural India is powerful and lush, and there is an interesting plot-line following a cultural clash between the followers of the One God, who have conquered the country (and with whom Diribani's life becomes intertwined), and the followers of the Twelve, among whom the sisters were raised by their jewel-merchant father.

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Lieder Madchen, April 27, 2011 (view all comments by Lieder Madchen)
This book is a charming re-telling of Charles Perrault's Diamonds and Toads fairy tale, with a twist. It takes place in a fictional India, and their is no nasty stepsister. In this setting, both the gemstones and the frogs are considered to be blessings, albeit for different reasons. I loved the characters and their struggles to survive and stay themselves in situations they could never have expected. Tana, the toad girl, especially had to stay strong to protect those she loved, which is what had been her wish all along. I would recommend this story to anyone 12 and up

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Product Details

ISBN:

9780805089684

Author:

Tomlinson, Heather

Publisher:

Henry Holt & Company

Subject:

Fairy tales

Subject:

Blessing and cursing

Subject:

Fairy Tales & Folklore - General

Subject:

Fantasy & Magic

Subject:

Love & Romance

Subject:

Fairy Tales & Folklore - Single Title

Subject:

Fantasy

Subject:

Magic

Subject:

Love

Subject:

Romance

Subject:

Family - Siblings

Subject:

Children s-General

Edition Description:

Trade Cloth

Publication Date:

20100331

Binding:

HARDCOVER

Grade Level:

Young adult

Language:

English

Pages:

288

Dimensions:

9.00 x 6.00 in

Age Level:

from 12 up to 17