The Horn Book Guide

YOUNGER FICTION

Grimes, Nikki

Almost Zero: A Dyamonde Daniel Book

115 pp. | Putnam | October, 2010 | Trade ISBN 978-0-399-25177-1 $10.99

(2) 1-3 Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. Dyamonde demands that her mother buy her the high-top sneakers she "needs." The next day her clothes disappear, and Mom explains that she only really needs one set. When a classmate's home is destroyed by fire, Dyamonde realizes the distinction between wanting and needing. The character dynamics are pitch perfect, with third-grader Dyamonde realistically balanced between self-confidence and self-doubt.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2010