I first read this book when I was 9 or so and its memory has never left my mind. liked Kizzy, the little Diddakoi (Traveller) girl perhaps because I could subconsciously relate to some of her struggles, especially those of perceived foreignness when one is the only dark-skinned kid in the class. Now that I'm reading this book again as an adult, with all the experience I have regarding culture and such, I am quite amazed that this book which is a kids book would have so much social commentary, also it's now as an adult that I can understand the initial appeal the book held for me. Funny how that works.It was also interesting to see what I had missed as a child, or couldn't possibly have known with my limited education or worldly experience. The foster care system for example, especially how harmful it has been for children of colour and Native Canadian kids, is something that I now know and something that I thought about while reading this book.The social commentary in this book is great and I liked the way Godden introduced a different culture in her book. She shows that not much has changed since the 70s (when this book was written): there are still the ignorant people who don't understand that there are different ways of being, and there are also the people who realize that different doesn't have to mean bad.I will love Kizzy forever.
This charming story was written in 1972 and tells of the life of seven year old Kizzy, a young gypsy girl who finds herself totally alone after the death of her Gran. She has all sorts of difficulties with going to school, interacting with the other children and adults and resists conforming to the standards of the town. This is a remarkable story of how the human spririt survives despite all odds and of the generosity and love given to this young girl from some caring people in the town. It is a struggle for Kizzy to accept the kindness of others. With all the recent emphasis on "bullying" in the schools, this would be an excellent book for parents to read with their children. Kizzy is a character that will both break your heart and warm it. You will not be disappointed if you decide to read The Diddakoi.
Having just finished the Maisie Dobbs’ book about gypsies—“An Incomplete Revenge,” I was reminded of this book that I read as an adult back in 1992. It’s about Kizzy, a young half gypsy girl who learns about prejudice when her grandmother dies and she enters the local school where she suffers the taunts and cruelties of her schoolmates. The book, directed at young adults, not only deals with bullying (a topic very much in the news today), but with Romany culture and kindness that reaches across racial barriers.
—Nancy
I recently re-read this book 35 years after first discovering it, and it's lost none of its intelligent charm. The story is simple: Kizzy is a young gypsy girl, shoe-horned into a mainstream society riddled with bullies and well-meaning but naive do-gooders, but whose innate determination and pride enables her to survive without losing her dignity or identity. The book was also adapted into a children's TV series in 1976 (which is how I discovered it), but the tale itself is timeless. In short, I thoroughly recommend it to parents who'd like to introduce their youngsters to such subjects as tolerance and diversity, all wrapped up in an absorbing narrative.
—Andreas Stavros
I've only ever read one other book by Rumer Godden -- the lovely little The Story of Holly and Ivy, which I loved as a child -- so when I saw this at the library a few weeks ago, I was intrigued.Reading the back cover, you could easily imagine this will be a sad, sordid tale -- Kizzy is bullied, ostracised, her grandmother dies, her dear horse is threatened with the slaughter house. I went in to it not being sure if it would be a story of pathos and drama, leaving one feeling sorrowful for the p
—Sara
