Rich: a Dyamonde Daniels Book by Nikki Grimes

Dyamonde Daniel is a spunky 3rd grader who knows about life -- and is always trying to teach her best friend, Free. For example, she sets her friend straight when he complains about being too poor to buy a new video game. No, that's not being poor; that's just not having the money right now. Big difference! When their teacher announces a poetry contest sponsored by the local library, Free, a self-described 'poet who knows it,' is very excited, especially when he hears about the $100 prize. Dyamonde is more sedate. She prefers math to poetry. Dyamonde notices that shy, quiet Damaris also looks pretty excited about the contest. Damaris is a bit of a mystery; one that Dyamonde intends to solve. What she discovers about this girl surprises and saddens her. But leave it to the irrepressible Dyamonde to find a way to turn a bad situation into something lovely.

Published by Putnam Juvenile, 2009. 96 pages.

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