My Life as a Diamond

Caz Cadman is a young boy who loves baseball. But Caz used to live his life as Cassandra, and he worries that his new friends will not accept him for who he is. Just as diamonds are created by pressure, Caz must persevere so that he can shine. This story of gender identity, friendship, and bravery is appropriate for intermediate-aged students and is suitable for a class read-aloud, novel study, or for independent reading. The book’s theme of gender identity may invite class discussions on the topic. Additionally, the book’s title may inspire lessons on wordplay and idioms.