Third grader Dyamonde Daniel, transplanted from Brooklyn to Washington Heights because of her parents’ divorce, is looking for a best friend. She is smart in school, especially when it comes to numbers, and sometimes her bravado makes her seem cocky. Deep down, Dyamonde is like most other kids: She wants a friend and she wants to belong. But as her new friend Free, also newly relocated because of family issues, says, “Wow! You’re amazing….You really don’t care what people think.” He hides his fondness for reading from the other children and is grouchy and belligerent to the little kids until Dyamonde calls him on his attitude, cementing their friendship. City youngsters will welcome a story set in their world—the world of small businesses, nosy old folks, small apartments and people from many cultures, and new readers will welcome the familiar situations, large font and ample white space. Gregory’s familiar black-and-white sketches add a hip, urban feel to the tale. Here’s hoping this series kick-off leads to many more stories about best friends Dyamonde and Free. (Fiction. 7-10)
