The Wishing Pearl (Diamond Estates #1) Paperback | Pages: 368 pages

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ISBN:	1616264543 (ISBN13: 9781616264543)
Edition Language:	English
Series:	Diamond Estates #1

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Also published on my blog, Read Love.

I won a copy of this book through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway. And one day, not long after receiving the email notification from Goodreads, I received a package from Amazon. The author, Nicole O'Dell, had bought me a copy of her book! How cool is that? I've never received a giveaway book so quickly before! I was really impressed and grateful.

The Wishing Pearl is the first in a planned series of Diamond Estates novels. Diamond Estates is a Christian outreach center, a residential treatment facility for troubled teens. In book one, we meet Olivia Mansfield, whom O'Dell manages to introduce to us in a way in which we can immediately sympathize with her. The opening scene has her playing her oboe: "The oboe understood her. It sang her somber song. Melancholy and forlorn...Perfect words to describe its cry and Olivia." Right away, you want to learn about Olivia and her sadness. And you find she is a nice girl. She's not a bad girl, but she is losing her way -- she starts to make poor choices. As Olivia navigates these choices, the author expertly shows her thought process, which is legitimately and believably one of a sixteen-year-old girl. Eventually, Olivia's life becomes unmanageable, and she reaches a breaking point which ultimately takes her to Diamond Estates. Her flight begins more as running away from danger in fear than running toward God or rescue, but Olivia is able to learn to trust in God and regain the faith that she had lost as a child. This book chronicles her journey.

Rather than go into the plot in-depth, I'm going to touch on some aspects I particularly enjoyed. First, Olivia's relationship with her brother Jake who is deaf. He and Olivia have a very special relationship. The novel uses their relationship, as well as another deaf character, to show compassion and empathy toward people who are different. Second, there are humorous moments that help keep the book and its serious topics from feeling too heavy. Third, I enjoyed getting to know Olivia's three roommates. The girls' group dynamic is very well done. And although there is an occasional weighty one-on-one discussion, the lighthearted moments show the girls as friends and family. This character-centered aspect helps keep the novel from feeling like an Afterschool Special. Finally, I liked that the mean girl -- yes, every book has one -- is served a portion of grace rather than revenge. This is definitely an idea worth exploring in teen literature!

Where the novel shines is in its portrayal of thoughts and feelings that seem like they are coming from a real teen. Nicole O'Dell does an exceptional job giving voice to all the feelings of doubt, shame, inadequacy, fear, etc., that a teen -- especially a girl -- can feel. For teens who are faced with tough situations that give rise to hard questions, fear, and discouragement, the novel provides guidance and hope. At one point, Olivia is encouraged to "fight the lies". The explanation that follows this advice, touching on what those lies are, is a terrific lesson that people of all ages can benefit from. Curious? Read the book!

I really enjoyed The Wishing Pearl and would highly recommend it! I look forward to reading the next installment, The Embittered Ruby, when it comes out next April.

Details Regarding Books The Wishing Pearl (Diamond Estates #1)

Title	:	The Wishing Pearl (Diamond Estates #1)
Author	:	Nicole O'Dell
Book Format	:	Paperback
Book Edition	:	Anniversary Edition
Pages	:	Pages: 368 pages
Published	:	October 1st 2011 by Barbour Books
Categories	:	Young Adult. Christian Fiction. Christian. Contemporary

Rating Regarding Books The Wishing Pearl (Diamond Estates #1)

Ratings: 4.03 From 184 Users | 41 Reviews

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Olivia Mansfield has everything a girl could want. She lives in a mansion, has a rich stepfather, a mother who spoils her, and a wonderful big brother. Her stepfathers abuse, her mothers indifference, and nightmares of her real fathers death make Olivias live something she wants to get away from. When Olivias friend introduces Olivia to a party scene, Olivia uses the party scene to escape her real life. When Olivia went to too many parties she got too wrapped up in all the party life her friend

I just finished a book by author Nicole ODell. This is the first book I have ever read anything by her and it was fantastic! This book is about Olivia Mansfield. She is troubled but from the outside looking in she has it all she even lives in a mansion. Keep in mind life is not always as it seems, she suffers abuse from her step dad and feels her mom does not even care. She her fathers death haunts her and she wants to escape her life. How does she do this? She parties too much and she loses one

Here's what I did like: Olivia! I loved Olivia. She was a strong main character, and she'd been through so much, but she came out stronger, and that's something that I love in a main character. Ju-Ju Ju-Ju was very well written in my opinion. She was quirky and real. Ben and Alicia I loved how their hearts are so big and full of love. They're great! The deaf culture represented Two deaf characters! Cool. Things I did not like: Jake Jake seemed more like a boyfriend than a brother to me

(I received this book from Clash Entertainment from a giveaway)I don't know what it is, but I guess I came into this expecting a fluffy novel with especially cheesy redemption. BOY, was I wrong! I stayed up *two* nights in a row to finish this exceptional book. Nicole O'Dell is not cheesy in her writing, at all. I loved it. It felt real. I really cared about these characters and thought O'Dell did a wonderful job creating them.It's a page turner. She kept ending chapters with cliff-hangers!

Haunted by the memory of her fathers death and subject to her stepfathers abuse, Olivia Mansfield turns to drugs and alcohol to numb her pain. When her addictions lead to a fatal accident, she turns to Diamond Estates for help. There she befriends a group of girls struggle with difficult pasts. Together, the foursome overcomes self-destructive behaviors, feelings of worthlessness, and even the centers resident mean girl. Nicole ODell treats each of the girls issues with discretion and wisdom. I

Sixteen-year-old Olivia Mansfield dreams of a land far, far away...A land far away from her stepfather's abuse and torment.A land far away from her mother's blind eye.A land far away from the haunting memories of her past.But then reality sets in, and Olivia knows she must make the best of her dire situation--at least until her high school graduation. But when poor choices lead Olivia to the brink of a complete breakdown and she finds herself dealing with the unexpected death of her best friend,

Wow. I just finished this book for the second time, and it was amazing! The characters are so vividly drawn, you feel like you know them, and it makes you happy to have such a long book with them. Rather than just a scene, you have over 300 pagesmonths and months in the storylinewith the characters that you come to love. ***MILD SPOILERS***This series as a whole is a very mature set of books; it covers topics such as teen pregnancy in a later book, but they are incredibly clean, wholesome, and