The Diamond and the Boy

The Diamond & The Boy is a two-tale picture book—a side-by-side telling of the story of natural diamond creation and the life of inventor Tracy Hall. This book shows how journeys can triumph over beginnings and how one person can rock the world.

Before a diamond is a gem, it’s a common gray rock called graphite. Through an intense trial of heat and pressure, it changes into one of the most valuable stones in the world.

Before Tracy Hall was an inventor, he was a boy—born into poverty, bullied by peers, forced to work at an early age. However, through education and experimentation, he became one of the brightest innovators of the twentieth century, eventually building a revolutionary machine that makes diamonds.

Before a diamond is a gem, it’s a cheap gray rock called graphite. It only becomes diamond through an intense trial of heat and pressure. Tracy Hall’s life was like a diamond furnace—born into poverty, bullied by peers, forced to work at an early age; however, he took his unique skills and became one of the brightest inventors of the 20th century, eventually building a revolutionary machine that made diamonds.

From author Hannah Holt—the granddaughter of Tracy Hall—and illustrator Jay Fleck comes this fascinating in-depth portrait of both rock and man.

Praise for The Diamond and the Boy

“A gem of a biography.” — Booklist (starred review)

“The parallel structure is a compelling one…” — Kirkus

Where to find it

Amazon · Bookshop · Barnes & Noble · Books-A-Million · IndieBound · Target