Title: The Diddakoi
Author: Rumer Godden
Major Themes: Gypsies, England, Bullying
Synopsis: When Kizzy’s ancient Gypsy grandmother died, where would the girl live—and could the English villagers accept her?
Last year sometime, I found The Diddakoi at a thrift shop. I didn’t know anything about this book, but we had one already on the shelf by this author and enjoyed it, so I picked up this one. Finally, I got around to reading it—what a wonderful surprise!
Publisher’s description:
Everyone in Kizzy’s town hates her because she’s half-gypsy—a diddakoi. But Kizzy doesn’t care. All she needs is Gran and her horse, Joe. But when Gran dies and their wagon burns down, Kizzy is all alone. No one wants to look after her, and her beloved Joe might get sent to the knacker’s yard. Can Kizzy survive in a hostile world—and save Joe?
My thoughts:
The Diddakoi is a wonderful story of a little girl who didn’t fit into the world she suddenly found herself thrust into without warning. An orphan who couldn’t remember her parents or grandparents, she lived with her great-grandmother in a wagon. Then, the town busybody discovered her, and she was forced to go to school, where, because she was a gypsy, the other girls bullied her unmercifully. When Gran died, the town decided what had to happen with Kizzy.
It was wonderful to see the transformation that unconditional love made in Kizzy’s life. Other lives in the village were transformed, as well. I loved the gentle romance that made a minor plot line. Several themes run through this story; it includes family, friendship, and bullying, all wrapped up in an engaging story of a lonely, confused little girl. I will be watching secondhand shops for more books by Rumer Godden!
WARNING: Gran dies, the horse dies of old age, Kizzy is hurt by bullies, and someone nearly dies in a house fire.
Age levels:
Listening Level—Ages 10 – 12, 12 – 15, Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 10 – 12, 12 – 15
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback | Hardcover
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
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