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

The Wishing Pearl (Diamond Estates #1)

Nicole O'Dell

Paperback | Pages: 368 pages

Rating: 4.03 | 184 Users | 41 Reviews

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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.

Mention Books As The Wishing Pearl (Diamond Estates #1)

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

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

Ratings: 4.03 From 184 Users | 41 Reviews

Evaluate Of Books The Wishing Pearl (Diamond Estates #1)

I didn't like this book. Sorry. First of all, I think that even though I can understand that Olivia went through a lot of hard stuff, and some real girls have some of the same problems as her, it all seemed sort of cheesy. Maybe it was just the way it was written. The second problem I had with it was her "touching" rock bottom scene in the hospital with the pastor's wife. Once again, I realize these things do happen, and very often. But O'Dell just didn't pull it off convincingly enough for me.

I received this as a Goodreads First Read.Trying to find some sort of control on her life, Olivia begins to make some poor choices, turning to cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana. Although she never truly hit rock bottom, she did discover the need to change from that path.While some parts of the story made one think "it really doesn't work that way," it is understandable why the author used creative license. Towards the beginning of the book there were a few instances of typos & grammatical

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

In The Wishing Pearl, Nicole weaves a sweet story of one girls struggles to break free of her past. Im not usually a fan of modern girls books (I prefer fantasy and plenty of action) and Im generally somewhat squeamish about certain difficult topics. But although this book deals with some tough stuff teen drinking, drug use, child abuse, etc Nicole handled it extremely tactfully. The story was anything but boring and I really enjoyed it!The book kept my attention all the way through. Olivias

I liked this book fairly well. The way it portrayed the abuse was exactly how I can handle it implied but off-screen and vaguely. I also thought it did a fantastic job showing how a series of choices can lead you deeper and deeper until you look back and wonder, How did I end up here?The first half felt long to me because I was looking forward to Olivia getting to Diamond Estates (and for the mild romance to start). I loved Diamond Estates its the kind of place I wish my husband could find to

This book does have a christian base to it.. even if it doesn't really seem like it in the beginning. I know that some people don't like reading books that have a church undertone, so I figured I would mention it. This book tackles a very tough topic, and I feel it does it very well. Olivia has been through a lot in her life, and isn't even an adult yet. She falls in with the wrong crowd but eventually gets presented with a opportunity to better herself and takes it. She realizes that not

(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!