Diamond Newberry

Diamond Newberry is the main character and first-person narrator of the novel. In the narrative present, Diamond is 16 years old. She lives with her mother Annabelle Newberry, or Ma, in Swift River. Seven years prior, Diamond’s father Robert Newberry, known as Pop, disappeared. Diamond and Ma are still grieving Pop. Diamond often feels lonely, sad, and isolated. Moreover, because Diamond is the only Black person in Swift River since Pop’s disappearance, she does not have friends and expects to be rejected or ridiculed wherever she goes. To experience some freedom, Diamond decides to sign up for driver’s ed classes behind Ma’s back. She knows that Ma does not want her to drive because Ma has been terrified of cars ever since a bad accident they had together. However, Diamond defies Ma because she wants to create a life for herself beyond her mother...