Diamond Willow by Helen Frost. I was intrigued by the unusual structure of this book, so I borrowed it from the library. Because of the format—most pages are composed of diamond-shaped verse—it was a quick read, even for me, the slow reader.
The story is sweet and sad. I actually cried at one point in the middle of the book when a secret was revealed to the main character. I'm also a sucker for stories that portray animals as wise caretakers.
The book centers on the introspection of a young girl who lives in Alaska. This blogger did a better job than I could of capturing the soul of the story:
http://thereadingzone.wordpress.com/2008/12/23/diamond-willow-by-helen-frost/
I liked Diamond Willow so much I purchased it for my personal library. I think that 4th or 5th grade girls who are reluctant readers would enjoy this book. LEXILE 670 ages 9-12
