What do you think?
Rate this book
Ghostwriter
Alias Diamond Jones
Rob Baker has always dreamed of being a writer. And now, with a slick new look and a cool pen name--Diamond Jones--he's going to prove he's got what it takes. But what happens when a writer underestimates the power of his own words? In Rob's case, it might cost him his friends on the Ghostwriter team. . .
- GenresChildrens
103 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 1993
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 26, 2026
I used to read the Ghostwriter books over and over again as a kid. Alias Diamond Jones was one of my least favorite then. It isn’t a mystery, it’s about friendship strife, and it centers on Rob, who — at the time — might have been my least favorite team member.
As an adult I went back and re-watched Ghostwriter and my appreciation for Rob grew exponentially, to the point that he might have become my favorite team member. He’s shy and insecure, yet deeply loyal, and it’s that loyalty that gives him courage. His story arcs on the TV show, such as “To the Light” or “Building Bridges,” were some of the most mature ones. So with that in mind, I went back to re-read Alias Diamond Jones.
I was so much more impressed this time. It’s about vulnerability, how hard it is for Rob to be vulnerable, all the real and perceived things in his life that add to his vulnerability, how he tries to compensate by creating a persona, only to realize somehow he’s actually made things worse. Cristina Salat’s decision to tell the whole story in first-person present tense instead of past tense really adds to this sensation.
Certainly, it’s a novel for children. Its approach to racial conflict reflects its early/mid-1990s sensibilities. Fans of the show will have to excuse some creative liberties taken with the character’s personalities; most aren’t really fleshed out and Jamal is more contentious than he ever is on the show. And it’s a drama instead of a mystery.
But the fact that I felt the need to write a review at all shows that the book did impact me on re-read beyond just nostalgia. I think it’s trying to speak to every young writer trying to find their voice. As a writer myself, I found this book relatable even as an adult.
As an adult I went back and re-watched Ghostwriter and my appreciation for Rob grew exponentially, to the point that he might have become my favorite team member. He’s shy and insecure, yet deeply loyal, and it’s that loyalty that gives him courage. His story arcs on the TV show, such as “To the Light” or “Building Bridges,” were some of the most mature ones. So with that in mind, I went back to re-read Alias Diamond Jones.
I was so much more impressed this time. It’s about vulnerability, how hard it is for Rob to be vulnerable, all the real and perceived things in his life that add to his vulnerability, how he tries to compensate by creating a persona, only to realize somehow he’s actually made things worse. Cristina Salat’s decision to tell the whole story in first-person present tense instead of past tense really adds to this sensation.
Certainly, it’s a novel for children. Its approach to racial conflict reflects its early/mid-1990s sensibilities. Fans of the show will have to excuse some creative liberties taken with the character’s personalities; most aren’t really fleshed out and Jamal is more contentious than he ever is on the show. And it’s a drama instead of a mystery.
But the fact that I felt the need to write a review at all shows that the book did impact me on re-read beyond just nostalgia. I think it’s trying to speak to every young writer trying to find their voice. As a writer myself, I found this book relatable even as an adult.
June 26, 2025
I read this long time ago but I remember it encouraged young authors to research before they write. Good advice. Plus I was a fan of Rob when I was a kid
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews