Diamond Boy - 9780199049042
Diamond Boy
Description
My father always said that a journey should change your life in some way. Well, I suppose that when you have nothing, a journey promises everything. As long as we arrived at a place better than the one we had left, I would be happy ... When fifteen-year-old Patson leaves Bulawayo with his family, he gives up his school, his friends and his beloved cross-country running. His father takes them to Marange - heart of Zimbabwe's illegal diamond trade - where the idea of "diamonds for everyone" promises a better future for them all. But in a place defined by the wild rush for instant wealth, Patson must learn a new set of rules about education, freedom, family and, most importantly, who to trust. And then, as the sparkling promise gives way to a tragic reality, he must learn when to run ...