Review by Booklist Review
A large diamond emerges from a riverbed in what is now India. It becomes a part of the Peacock Throne until it is looted by warriors who cart it and countless other treasures off to Iran. Many years later, it returns to India (now under British colonial rule), where it remains until its young keeper is tricked out of ownership, sending it to Britain, where it resides today as part of the crown jewels. Kelkar's lyrical telling makes clear the dire results of colonial oppression. Unspeakable things happen to this jewel (Britain's Prince Albert has it recut and shaped to adhere to Western standards of beauty, reducing its size by half), but, throughout, the diamond shines. Digitally enhanced cut-paper collage artwork dazzles the eye, from the teal-and-blue endpapers containing remnants of the gem's history, to the gleaming treasure whose light shines brightly, to depictions of other jewels with which it has shared company. Particularly impressive is an image of the sparkling marvel centered atop symbolic representations of its history. The back matter (containing a concise history, a definition of colonization, suggestions for decolonizing, and a discussion of stolen museum treasures) will be extremely helpful to adults sharing this story and those wishing to delve deeper. A gem not to be missed.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Lyrically told and dimensionally visualized in textural collage illustrations, Kelkar's tale--addressed to the world-famous Kohinoor Diamond--follows its centuries-long journey via two children who witness the historical events. In a vivid beginning scene, the children see "you sink in sandy sediment...// until a pair of brown hands/ sifts through the grains/ and you emerge.// Look at your shine!" The gem's "shine" becomes a repeating motif of an object undimmed across a history of bloodshed and oppression. The diamond first sits "in the Peacock Throne,/ seven long years in the making" before being looted, passed around via violent acts, and eventually taken and reshaped "to become a symbol/ of the power of your colonizers." Ending text considers the diamond's being told it "should look different to belong" and its "being cut down, torn down,/ like a piece of property just passing hands," hinting at a long human history extending beyond a single object--one that continues to shine. Extensive back matter includes "The Kohinoor Diamond: A History of Looting and Theft," plus details about colonization and stolen artifacts. Ages 8--12. (Apr.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
An account of the many lives of India's Kohinoor diamond. "A pair of brown hands" extract the fabled diamond from a river. The stone eventually becomes part of "the Peacock Throne," finds its way onto an unnamed conqueror's arm, and passes to a series of other unknown owners until it returns "back home-- / the land where those brown hands / first unearthed you." The diamond ends up in the custody of a 10-year-old boy--"scared and alone, / forcibly separated from his mother"--who is tricked into signing it away to a white man, presumably a British colonizer. Cut down much smaller than its original size, the diamond is embossed onto a British crown--a literal jewel in the crown. Why does the diamond shine throughout these trials and tribulations? The book's narrator--who addresses the story to the diamond--ultimately concludes that it's because the stone perceives its true worth. The collage illustrations are absolutely stunning, incorporating vibrant textures and colors that let this work sparkle like the titular diamond. The lyrical text is inspiring, and the use of second person is effective. The story's lack of specificity, however, adds an ambiguity that detracts somewhat from its emotional resonance; readers will need to consult the thorough backmatter to learn, for instance, that in 1628, Mughal emperor Shah Jahan had the Kohinoor diamond set in a throne shaped like peacocks. The mesmerizing visuals will enchant, but the text will keep many readers at arm's length. (further reading, bibliography) (Informational picture book. 7-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
