Book: The Occasional Diamond Thief by J.A. McLachlan
Genre: Young Adult
Publication date: December 2, 2014
Print publication dates: April 15, 2015 in Canada; May 15 in US
Pages: 290

Source: From the author — I was invited to be a beta-reader for the book.

Isn’t that a great cover! I helped (with a bunch of other people) design it.

Summary: Kia’s adventure begins with the discovery of a rare diamond discovered in her father’s possession on his deathbed. Her language skills take her to a far-flung world in the company of Agatha, a wise and spiritual woman who needs Kia’s translations and her practical mindset. The secret of the diamond, however, risks the mission and their lives.

Thoughts: I just love the worlds that J.A. McLachlan creates. In her previous work, Walls of Wind, the characters weren’t even particularly humanoid. In The Occasional Diamond Thief, the characters seem much like us, but the worlds they inhabit are very different.

Both Kia and Agatha are young, but they have special skills that complement each other. It’s fun to watch them fail, help each other, and succeed. I think young readers will relate to their flaws as much as their talents.

Appeal: The Occasional Diamond Thief is one of those science fiction books that will appeal to people who don’t like science fiction. The alien worlds are fascinating, but the emphasis is always on the characters and their relationships to each other. With two female characters, this book will most appeal to girls, but there are plenty of great male characters to keep the guys entertained as well.

Reviews: Today is the book birthday for The Occasional Diamond Thief. If you read and review this book, let me know and I’ll link to it here.

Have you read this book? What did you think?