A Book Report By Isabel Ward

October 29th 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.

The End