A Book Report By Isabel Ward October 29 th 2010

Summary: This book is about a girl named Hero Netherfield. Her name is Hero because her dad studies Shakespeare and Hero is a name from the play “Much Ado About Nothing.” She is trying to find a diamond that’s hidden in her house. It’s called the Murphy diamond and it has been passed down through the Murphy family, who used to live in Hero’s house. A while before Hero moved into the house, Arthur Murphy’s wife was sick and he needed money for his wife. He faked a robbery to get insurance money. Arthur had to hide the diamond in a spot that no policeman could find. Hero is no policeman.

Question One: Who are the characters and what are their journeys? The characters are Hero (who I’ve already told you a bit about), Danny and Mrs. Roth. Their journey is not a huge one, it’s more personal. Their journey is to find the diamond hidden in Hero’s house. Danny is an eighth grader whose father is a policeman and was searching for the Murphy diamond. Danny wants to help Hero because his father never found it. Mrs. Roth is Hero’s next door neighbor and Arthur Murphy’s ex- wife. Even though she’s Mr. Murphy’s ex-wife, she was still good friends with him and his new wife. She is helping Hero and Danny on their search.

Question Two: What problems or challenges do the characters face on their journey(s)? They have to search tons of information, like history about Queen Elizabeth and Anne Boleyn, who may have once owned the missing diamond. They have to look in many hiding places, in cupboards and under loose boards on the floor. Hero decides that Arthur must have been very careful with his hiding spot. Along the way they end up breaking an irreplaceable light fixture because they’re looking for the diamond inside of it. Hero finds it difficult keeping the diamond search a secret from her parents.

Question Three: Why are the journey(s) important to the characters? The missing diamond is a mystery inside Hero’s very own house, and she wants to solve it. Mrs. Roth is inspired to find the diamond because of her friendship with Arthur Murphy. As the search goes on she feels more and more involved. Danny wants to accomplish what his father never did, find the diamond.