The Wishing Pearl (Diamond Estates) [Paperback]

Nicole O'Dell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2011 | Series: Diamond Estates (Book 1)

Join conflicted sixteen-year-old Olivia Mansfield on her journey to hope and healing as she leaves her messed-up life behind and moves into Diamond Estates, a home for troubled teens. This brand-new novel for teen girls will not only entertain, but also promises to capture your heart and challenge your faith. (20110802)

Editorial Reviews

Review

O'Dell's heart for young adults shines through. A story of hope in the midst of pain, poignantly-written with vivid characters facing real-life issues, THE WISHING PEARL is a can't-put-down must-read for teens! --Tosca Lee, author of Demon: A Memoir

O'Dell has penned a gripping novel that will have you turning the pages. The Wishing Pearl is a powerful story of a girl stepping from a shattered life into the light of hope.

--Jenny B. Jones, award-winning author of A Charmed Life series

The writing of this novel is amazing and I felt as though I could connect with Olivia and what she was going through. She has so much life and energy, but was pouring it into all the wrong places.  If you enjoy books that discuss tough, but real topics...I seriously suggest picking up this amazing novel! 

LillyReader, Lilly Road

I was so totally lost in this story that I just couldn’t stop reading!  The characters were so well developed, the story so well written, the ups and downs and twists and turns were phenomenal.  The writing was so descriptive that I could picture clearly in my mind’s eye, Diamond Estate perfectly.  I was so engrossed in each of the girl’s stories and friendships that I felt like I was living on a cot in the room the four girls shared together.  I felt that close to them.  Although this was originally written as a young adult novel, it is also great reading for any age.  At 368 pages it only took me a few hours to buzz through it because it was that good!!!  Be sure to pick up a copy as this is one story you won’t forget.

(Louise Jolly Book Bag Lady )

Where the novel shines is in its portrayal of thoughts and feelings that seem like they are coming from a real teen.  Nicole O''Dell does an exceptional job giving voice to all the feelings of doubt, shame, inadequacy, fear, etc., that a teen -- especially a girl -- can feel.  For teens who are faced with tough situations that give rise to hard questions, fear, and discouragement, the novel provides guidance and hope.  At one point, Olivia is encouraged to "fight the lies".  The explanation that follows this advice, touching on what those lies are, is a terrific lesson that people of all ages can benefit from.  Curious? Read the book!

I really enjoyed The Wishing Pearl and would highly recommend it! I look forward to reading the next installment, The Embittered Ruby, when it comes out next April. 

(Dawn Creal Read Love )

Book Description

Sixteen-year-old Olivia Mansfield can’t wait to escape the confines of her home, which promises nothing but perpetual torment and abuse from her stepfather. When poor choices lead her to the brink of a complete breakdown, Olivia comes to a crossroads. Will she find the path to ultimate hope and healing that her heart longs for?

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 15 and up
  
• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Barbour Books (October 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1616264543
• ISBN-13: 978-1616264543
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #625,361 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Nicole O'Dell, founder of Choose NOW Ministries is a youth culture expert, who writes and speaks to preteens, teenagers, and parents about how to prepare for life's tough choices. She is the author of a bunch of YA books, including the popular Scenarios for Girls interactive fiction series and the upcoming Diamond Estates Series, 2011-2012. Non-fiction for teens includes Girl Talk, 2/1/12, which she wrote with her two daughters based on their popular blog column by the same name.

The host of Teen Talk Radio where "It's all about choices!", Nicole dives in on topics like peer pressure, dating, purity, drugs, alcohol, modesty, popularity, decisions about the future, and many other things that might come up along the way. Over the years, Nicole has worked as a youth director, a Bible study leader for women and teens, and a counselor at a crisis pregnancy center. She lives in Illinois with her husband, Wil and her six wonderful kids--including a set of toddler triplets.

Nicole O'Dell, Choose NOW Ministries
...battling peer pressure by tackling the tough issues
www.nicoleodell.com
www.choose-NOW.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Debut of a Great New Series!, October 5, 2011

By 

Valerie Comer - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Wishing Pearl (Diamond Estates) (Paperback)

Olivia Mansfield's brother has been protecting her, to some degree, from their abusive stepfather. With their mother blissfully in lalaland and her brother off to college, Olivia has no one but her new friends and her beloved oboe to divert her attention. Her new friends are leading her down the path of drinking and partying, but Olivia doesn't much care. She can't see any reason to change her life until the unthinkable happens.

Suddenly Olivia is face to face with the realities her choices have brought her, and she voluntarily checks into a Teen Challenge program at Diamond Estates in Colorado. But even though she desires to make a new beginning-most of the time-huge obstacles need to be overcome, not only for her, but for her mother.

If you're a teen or know a teen, you need this book. The Wishing Pearl is a strongly written novel that will reach into teens' lives and show them hope.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The lies that hurt us..., October 5, 2011

By 

Laura Kurk (College Station, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Wishing Pearl (Diamond Estates) (Paperback)

O'Dell has created a compelling, strong start to her much anticipated Diamond Estates Series. The Wishing Pearl challenges readers to fight against the lies that we all tell ourselves--we're not good enough, we're to blame, God wouldn't want us anyway. Olivia comes to Diamond Estates with as much baggage as possible, and at first she thinks she's only there to escape the immediate threat of home. Slowly, O'Dell peels back the layers and we begin to see a girl who's only been reacting to the bad that's been thrown at her. Once she comes to terms with that truth herself, she sees that God's been there all along and his tenderness has brought her to where she needs to be. She learns to say, "I will trust Him." Olivia's character is complicated and realistic, but so are the characters of the other girls she meets at Diamond Estates, all of whom have a story to tell. O'Dell wants her teen and young adult readers to find hope even when they're going through the toughest parts of life like depression, eating disorders, addiction, and self-hate. She's gentle with readers as she leads them to the same conclusions Olivia came to. I recommend this book to teens who are ready to read about tougher issues in life and those are who seeking answers. O'Dell doesn't mince words and she doesn't shy away from hard subjects. That's why she's a stand-out in this YA market. Looking forward to the next in the series!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCITING NEW SERIES!!!!, October 25, 2011

By 

Patti Lacy "Contemporary Christian women's fi... (Midwest, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wishing Pearl (Diamond Estates) (Paperback)

Thanks to Nicole O'Dell, I've been able to share relevant books, and the gospel, with an eight-year-old neighbor. O'Dell's new Diamond Estates series reaches out and grabs 12-18-year-olds with engrossing, Good News stories, and I'm hallelujah-ing far and wide!

In "The Wishing Pearl," sixteen-year-old Olivia Mansfield spends her days playing the oboe during band class and searching for acceptance in the usual high school ways. By night, however, demons from the past...and present...stalk her and push her toward the security gates of her luxurious home that she shares with her shopaholic mom and the stepfather whose flippant smile masks sinister motives.

When Olivia succumbs to substance abuse and defiance of authority, a mentor suggests that she enter Diamond Estates, a home for girls nestled in the Rocky Mountains...and in the loving hands of caretakers who bathe the girls in prayer. Still, Oliva juts out her jaw and refuses...until an alcohol-induced stupor and death slithers into her life and forces a stand-off. Within a week, bags are packed, and Olivia's Colorado bound.

Such a restorative environment can't dim flaring tempers, jealousy, and ingrained dysfunction. Though Olivia longs to know the God that her counselors praise, a handsome boy, a hateful roommate, and that past keep sparking emotional forest fires. Can Olivia truly find healing and find a way to live a life supernaturally ordained?

Bravo to O'Dell, who tackles sexual and substance abuse without losing focus on a poignant story that will touch the heart of any aged reader! However, if you have a teenaged girl on your shopping list, get a copy of The Wishing Pearl in her hands. Now.