I'm not a sports oriented person. At all. So I generally avoid sports themed books. The exception: when sports are a metaphor for a greater life lesson. And that's the case here. I find that baseball, in particular, is often used as a life metaphor and it works for me. This is a delightful, heartwarming story of self-acceptance and rising above other people's judgement.

This was an absolutely wonderful queer story for children that combined sports and gender identity and it is such an important topic for children to read about to see themaccepted for who they are

This book was amazing. I want to understand more about transgender issues and this book put the issues in a real light. Caz' family and friends relate to his challenges in their own realistic ways, some more supportive than others. Caz is strong, hardworking and courageous. I think this is a great book for anyone who wants to be more empathetic to those with gender issues.

10-year-old Caz loves to play baseball and is a big Blue Jays fan, so when his family moves to Seattle, one of the first places he goes is the park. There, he meets Hank, who encourages him to join the baseball league. Caz ends up being on the Redburn Ravens team with Hank but also Kyle, who isn't very nice. Since Caz has a big secret to hide, he doesn't want to take the chances of angering any of his teammates. Back in Toronto, Caz was Cassie. Cassie had always felt like a boy, and even mentioned this to his best friend, who didn't seem all that bothered. But things didn't go well, and the family decided to relocate. Caz's father and mother are fairly supportive, and his Nana tells him that "pressure makes diamonds" and that he will do fine. It's nice to be able to live his life, play baseball (which is super important) and not have to worry about having to explain why he was born female but doesn't feel that way now, but he knows that it won't last forever. Eventually, people find out about his ball career in Toronto, there have to be explanations, but things go fairly smoothly.

Strengths: The author put a lot of research into this and had lots of sensitivity readers, and was successful in having an elementary and middle grade appropriate transgender story. The inclusion of lots of baseball is a big plus, and will encourage readers to pick up the book. While Caz has just the one very bad experience, his feelings and issues with various people in his life are nor sugar coated. Some people are jerks, some of the people who count the most care the least about what gender he is. Unlike some of the books I have read on this topic, Caz doesn't really give any reasons for feeling like he is male. That's just the way it is. This seems more believable than the books about children born boys who really like long hair and girls' clothing-- those just leave me with a very negative feeling about gender stereotypes in our society. Well done.
Weaknesses: Caz' age makes sense-- he's too young to worry quite yet about puberty. Still, middle school students sometimes don't want to read about younger students. I do have a growing number of readers interested in LGTBQ+ books, and I'm not sure how well they will like the baseball theme, but I do think it is an excellent way to go.

What I really think: My readers interested in LGTBQ+ (who are 99% female identified) will definitely pick this up. I'll definitely purchase, and I do try to get students to read these books, but some just do not want to. Luckily, I haven't had any challenges on the books in my collection, which is nice. I hold LGTBQ+ books to the same standards as the other books, so all of the ones I have are middle grade friendly.

I don't really like baseball, all that much, and that has nothing to do with having my nose broken while I was trying to catch a ball, while playing softball. Or maybe it does. I guess, what I'm trying to say, is that I don't like reading about baseball, but I was do like reading about transgendered kids, and the problems they face, so I plowed ahead with this story of Caz, and his desire to play baseball as the boy he was supposed to be.

The diamond in this story does not refer to the baseball diamond, but the process that makes a diamond, pressure, having to tough it out, which is what Caz is doing.

No one knows, in his new neighborhood that he was born a girl, and he isn't about to tell them. All he wants to do is make new friends and play ball.

Very realistic story of a pre-pubescent transgender boy, trying to be who he wants to be. He has his parents who are very supportive, and even his Nan, who sometimes has to be reminded the right name to call him.

This is a good book for introducing children to the concept of transgender youth, wrapped up in a story of playing baseball, and dealing with bullies. Very accessable.

#MyLifeAsADiamond #NetGalley

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

I do not even know where to begin. I loved this book for so many reasons. First of all, I’m a passionate baseball fan. Second of all, I’m a passionate Toronto Blue Jays fan. Needless to say, this book really struck a chord with me.

By way of brief summary, this story follows Caz Cadman (who is also passionate about baseball and is also a passionate Blue Jays fan) as he moves from Toronto to Seattle. Caz misses parts of his old life in Toronto, but he slowly starts making friends, and things fall into place after he tries out for a local baseball team and makes the team.

I know this book is geared toward children/young adults, but even as a 33 year old woman, I really related to Caz, and especially his love of baseball. I’m fairly certain that I too, at some point in my life, have said these same two sentences from this book: “What was the point of anything without baseball?” and “There are only two seasons, winter and baseball.” Truer words were never spoken.

I appreciated all the real-life mentions in this book such as the mention of the Rangers’ pitcher (*cough* Derek Holland *cough*) wiping his behind with a Blue Jays’ rally towel during the playoffs, and the mention of Bautista’s bat flip, among other things. Just classic. Any diehard baseball fan will love all of these mentions, and non-baseball fans will be able to follow the narrative because the author does a great job of explaining everything; we really get to know Caz’s inner thoughts at all times. I’d also like to give a shout out to Nana Cadman who has got to be the coolest Nan out there.

Aside from the baseball aspect of this book, this story touches on the important topic of transgender people. This is something I have become aware of within the past 2 years or so because of the show “I am Jazz,” and so when Jazz Jennings was mentioned in this book, I thought that was an important nod, and hopefully anyone going through the same self-discovery as Caz will take comfort in knowing that there are a lot of resources out there for them and other people that they can relate to and reach out to. And to anyone who may think or comment that girls are good at baseball too and Caz should have been proud to be a girl instead of wanting to be a boy – well, those people are completely missing the point.

I want to thank NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for allowing me to read this book for an honest review. I am so happy and very appreciative that I was given this opportunity, and I cannot wait to buy a hardcopy of this book. More importantly, thank you to Jenny Manzer for being brave enough to write this DIAMOND of a story. I think you may be my soul sister. Let’s go, Blue Jays!