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Becoming Dinah
A YA coming-of-age road trip novel about obsession, self-discovery, female power, and the people we meet along the way - by Costa Award shortlisted author Kit de Waal. The perfect read for anyone who's ever wondered where they came from and where they might be going next.
In her first YA novel, Costa-shortlisted Kit de Waal responds to classic Moby Dick by tearing the power away from obsessive Captain Ahab and giving it to a teenage girl.
Dinah's whole world is upside down, dead things and angry men and cuts all over her head that are beginning to sting....
Seventeen-year-old Dinah needs to leave her home, the weird commune where she grew up. She needs a whole new identity, starting with how she looks, starting with shaving off her hair, her 'crowning glory'. She has to do it quickly, because she has to go now.
Dinah was going to go alone and hitch a ride down south. Except, she ends up being persuaded to illegally drive a VW campervan for hundreds of miles, accompanied by a grumpy man with one leg. This wasn't the plan.
But while she's driving, Dinah will be forced to confront everything that led her here, everything that will finally show her which direction to turn...
In her first YA novel, Costa-shortlisted author Kit de Waal responds to the classic Moby Dick with entirely new characters, a VW campervan, and by tearing the power away from obsessive Captain Ahab and giving it to a teenage girl who's determined to find a new life, far away from her unconventional upbringing.
In her first YA novel, Costa-shortlisted Kit de Waal responds to classic Moby Dick by tearing the power away from obsessive Captain Ahab and giving it to a teenage girl.
Dinah's whole world is upside down, dead things and angry men and cuts all over her head that are beginning to sting....
Seventeen-year-old Dinah needs to leave her home, the weird commune where she grew up. She needs a whole new identity, starting with how she looks, starting with shaving off her hair, her 'crowning glory'. She has to do it quickly, because she has to go now.
Dinah was going to go alone and hitch a ride down south. Except, she ends up being persuaded to illegally drive a VW campervan for hundreds of miles, accompanied by a grumpy man with one leg. This wasn't the plan.
But while she's driving, Dinah will be forced to confront everything that led her here, everything that will finally show her which direction to turn...
In her first YA novel, Costa-shortlisted author Kit de Waal responds to the classic Moby Dick with entirely new characters, a VW campervan, and by tearing the power away from obsessive Captain Ahab and giving it to a teenage girl who's determined to find a new life, far away from her unconventional upbringing.
240 pages, Paperback
First published July 11, 2019
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580 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
June 4, 2019
To say I was intrigued by the concept and basic premise of the book would be a severe understatement. I think it takes a lot to be able to breathe new life into classic stories while also making them appeal to both those familiar with the source material and to those approaching your work as a singular entity. To say Kit De Waal does so successfully would also be an understatement.
Becoming Dinah is such a powerful exploration of obsession and the many stories people tell themselves about who they are and what the world around them shapes them to be. There is an equally powerful thing about seeing a story such as Moby Dick, a story that few if any would associate with coming of age and teen girls, recentered in such a way that at the end of the day it makes you wonder why, at the very core, Moby Dick wouldn't be about a teen girl navigating the world and trying to make sense of it as well as of herself.
The book opens at a moment of metamorphosis - Dinah, our young protagonist, shaves off all her hair, her most prized and distinguishable feature, in an attempt of preparing herself to leave behind the only life that she has ever known. The rest of the book respects this tone set by the exposition: Dinah's journey, both literal and metaphorical, is one continuous renewal of who she is and who she would like to be. From chopping off her hair, to changing her name, to associating herself with people she wouldn't have chose to do so with before, Dinah's story follows a series of multiple small choices and changes that lead up to the simple, yet powerful choice of where to go next, both in terms of space and in a much deeper sense.
It is arguable, then, that at its core, this is very much a story about a young woman trying to come to terms with multiple sides of her identity and how those facets of who she is, as well as her previous experiences, alter the way she navigates the world. It just so happens that this is done with her grumpy companion found in the form of Ahab as they drive down the country in hunt of a white campervan that in some (if not all) ways, shapes and forms is meant to represent the solution to all of Dinah and Ahab's problems.
(as the reader might assume, this isn't quite as easy or likely to happen, so Dinah will naturally be confronted with the way this event in itself changes her new order)
A tale of identity, disillusionment, growing up and not just finding, but actively creating your path, Becoming Dinah is the hopeful reaction to complicated dilemmas that I think many teens would need in their lives. And it is a YA, female centric,purely on land retelling of Moby Dick. What else could one ask for?
I must also add, as I know many would appreciate, that Dinah is a biracial, queer girl. At least on the biracial side, that's an #ownvoices story for you folks!
I must also add that while overall this was a fabulous read, there was also an instance of unnecessary casual fatphobia that we could have definitely done very well without, so I had to knock off half a star from my rating because of that.
Becoming Dinah is such a powerful exploration of obsession and the many stories people tell themselves about who they are and what the world around them shapes them to be. There is an equally powerful thing about seeing a story such as Moby Dick, a story that few if any would associate with coming of age and teen girls, recentered in such a way that at the end of the day it makes you wonder why, at the very core, Moby Dick wouldn't be about a teen girl navigating the world and trying to make sense of it as well as of herself.
The book opens at a moment of metamorphosis - Dinah, our young protagonist, shaves off all her hair, her most prized and distinguishable feature, in an attempt of preparing herself to leave behind the only life that she has ever known. The rest of the book respects this tone set by the exposition: Dinah's journey, both literal and metaphorical, is one continuous renewal of who she is and who she would like to be. From chopping off her hair, to changing her name, to associating herself with people she wouldn't have chose to do so with before, Dinah's story follows a series of multiple small choices and changes that lead up to the simple, yet powerful choice of where to go next, both in terms of space and in a much deeper sense.
It is arguable, then, that at its core, this is very much a story about a young woman trying to come to terms with multiple sides of her identity and how those facets of who she is, as well as her previous experiences, alter the way she navigates the world. It just so happens that this is done with her grumpy companion found in the form of Ahab as they drive down the country in hunt of a white campervan that in some (if not all) ways, shapes and forms is meant to represent the solution to all of Dinah and Ahab's problems.
(as the reader might assume, this isn't quite as easy or likely to happen, so Dinah will naturally be confronted with the way this event in itself changes her new order)
A tale of identity, disillusionment, growing up and not just finding, but actively creating your path, Becoming Dinah is the hopeful reaction to complicated dilemmas that I think many teens would need in their lives. And it is a YA, female centric,purely on land retelling of Moby Dick. What else could one ask for?
I must also add, as I know many would appreciate, that Dinah is a biracial, queer girl. At least on the biracial side, that's an #ownvoices story for you folks!
I must also add that while overall this was a fabulous read, there was also an instance of unnecessary casual fatphobia that we could have definitely done very well without, so I had to knock off half a star from my rating because of that.
July 27, 2019
Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Annie Deo
Becoming Dinah is the first in the Bellatrix collection of YA books recently launched by Hachette Children’s Group, which focuses on bringing attention to a diverse range of women’s stories written by leading female voices. Kit de Waal reimagines the classic 1851 novel Moby Dick by Herman Melville via our present-day society with the male sailor Ishmael going from a minor player in Captain Ahab’s quest for revenge to a young woman important in her own right at the center of her coming-of-age story.
My knowledge of Moby Dick is limited entirely to a vague notion of an obsessive captain pursuing a white whale to the point of madness. Luckily, knowledge of the source material isn’t necessary in order to enjoy this book as it stands alone quite capably, but there are numerous references and more than likely in-jokes that only those familiar with the classic will recognise. The few twists on the original that I recognised were rather clever, for instance, Dinah and Ahab are in pursuit of a Volkswagen Campervan in Whale White (wink wink) which has been stolen with Ahab’s prosthetic leg inside.
The narration is solely from Dinah’s point of view, so it puzzled me to see the first several chapters numbered with Dinah’s name next to it as though indicating an upcoming change in narrator until I saw chapter 7 with the name Ishmael. As Dinah only adopts this name on her mad adventure with Ahab, the author uses this to distinguish between chapters that explore Dinah’s past leading up to the event that makes her feel she has no option but to run away from home, and chapters that focus on new developments in the road trip from hell.
Sometimes with a split between past and present, the former may suffer for being less compelling as we want to keep reading about the main story arc without the constant flashbacks, but that isn’t the case here as the author cleverly weaves in some intrigue to keep us invested in the past. There is the mystery in what led to Dinah fleeing in the first place as well as what caused the commune she grew up in to fall apart; astute readers may be able to guess in advance what unfolded, but knowing what happened and reading about it are two entirely separate things.
‘The only season you can trust is the winter. Everything dies. You can rely on that.’
Ishmael feels the sadness oozing out of him and wants to tell him he’s wrong, but right now, after everything she’s done, maybe he’s right. Ishmael couldn’t wait to go to school, she thought it would change everything, that her life wouldn’t be so boring, that she would make friends and find her place in the world. But it didn’t turn out that way. You can’t trust your hopes and your dreams, you can’t trust anything. Sometimes the best thing is to run from your dreams, as far away as you can.
Dinah is an achingly believable and sympathetic protagonist who has been through more than her fair share of angst. Her childhood upbringing in a commune may not be relatable, but the heartbreak of family separation, losing a close friend who has outgrown you, trying to fit in at a new school, and struggling to reconcile one’s sexual orientation are universal themes that many people will identify with. While the effects of living on the commune weren’t examined in great detail, seeing Dinah’s efforts to assimilate into the public school system after being isolated from the real world her whole life felt new and fresh in YA.
As a child and teenager, small events can take on an importance of earth-shattering importance and even if objectively, a situation wasn’t that big a deal and could be handwaved away, Dinah’s narration successfully convinces the reader of her belief that it IS of the utmost significance. Most of us probably wouldn’t resort to shaving their hair to deal with a moment of shock and panic, but it makes sense for Dinah as a method of forcing herself to leave her life behind and forge a new identity. Unfortunately for her, the commune’s shadowy past hangs over Dinah and the supporting characters, providing a tangled web of betrayal, deceit, love and loss to be untangled throughout the story.
“The raven is a spirit animal, a guide. When she comes, she marks a moment, an important moment, and you must listen… The raven means rebirth. And she means release. A new beginning.”
As the title suggests, this story is about Dinah’s journey to accepting who she is, and the impromptu road trip with Ahab leads to encounters with people that either shed light on different aspects of her personality or encourage growth and healing so that she can move past the pain she’s been carrying. This is a powerful and moving opening entry in the Bellatrix range, and bodes well for the future books to come. While this is Kit de Waal’s first YA novel, it will hopefully not be the last!
Becoming Dinah is the first in the Bellatrix collection of YA books recently launched by Hachette Children’s Group, which focuses on bringing attention to a diverse range of women’s stories written by leading female voices. Kit de Waal reimagines the classic 1851 novel Moby Dick by Herman Melville via our present-day society with the male sailor Ishmael going from a minor player in Captain Ahab’s quest for revenge to a young woman important in her own right at the center of her coming-of-age story.
My knowledge of Moby Dick is limited entirely to a vague notion of an obsessive captain pursuing a white whale to the point of madness. Luckily, knowledge of the source material isn’t necessary in order to enjoy this book as it stands alone quite capably, but there are numerous references and more than likely in-jokes that only those familiar with the classic will recognise. The few twists on the original that I recognised were rather clever, for instance, Dinah and Ahab are in pursuit of a Volkswagen Campervan in Whale White (wink wink) which has been stolen with Ahab’s prosthetic leg inside.
The narration is solely from Dinah’s point of view, so it puzzled me to see the first several chapters numbered with Dinah’s name next to it as though indicating an upcoming change in narrator until I saw chapter 7 with the name Ishmael. As Dinah only adopts this name on her mad adventure with Ahab, the author uses this to distinguish between chapters that explore Dinah’s past leading up to the event that makes her feel she has no option but to run away from home, and chapters that focus on new developments in the road trip from hell.
Sometimes with a split between past and present, the former may suffer for being less compelling as we want to keep reading about the main story arc without the constant flashbacks, but that isn’t the case here as the author cleverly weaves in some intrigue to keep us invested in the past. There is the mystery in what led to Dinah fleeing in the first place as well as what caused the commune she grew up in to fall apart; astute readers may be able to guess in advance what unfolded, but knowing what happened and reading about it are two entirely separate things.
‘The only season you can trust is the winter. Everything dies. You can rely on that.’
Ishmael feels the sadness oozing out of him and wants to tell him he’s wrong, but right now, after everything she’s done, maybe he’s right. Ishmael couldn’t wait to go to school, she thought it would change everything, that her life wouldn’t be so boring, that she would make friends and find her place in the world. But it didn’t turn out that way. You can’t trust your hopes and your dreams, you can’t trust anything. Sometimes the best thing is to run from your dreams, as far away as you can.
Dinah is an achingly believable and sympathetic protagonist who has been through more than her fair share of angst. Her childhood upbringing in a commune may not be relatable, but the heartbreak of family separation, losing a close friend who has outgrown you, trying to fit in at a new school, and struggling to reconcile one’s sexual orientation are universal themes that many people will identify with. While the effects of living on the commune weren’t examined in great detail, seeing Dinah’s efforts to assimilate into the public school system after being isolated from the real world her whole life felt new and fresh in YA.
As a child and teenager, small events can take on an importance of earth-shattering importance and even if objectively, a situation wasn’t that big a deal and could be handwaved away, Dinah’s narration successfully convinces the reader of her belief that it IS of the utmost significance. Most of us probably wouldn’t resort to shaving their hair to deal with a moment of shock and panic, but it makes sense for Dinah as a method of forcing herself to leave her life behind and forge a new identity. Unfortunately for her, the commune’s shadowy past hangs over Dinah and the supporting characters, providing a tangled web of betrayal, deceit, love and loss to be untangled throughout the story.
“The raven is a spirit animal, a guide. When she comes, she marks a moment, an important moment, and you must listen… The raven means rebirth. And she means release. A new beginning.”
As the title suggests, this story is about Dinah’s journey to accepting who she is, and the impromptu road trip with Ahab leads to encounters with people that either shed light on different aspects of her personality or encourage growth and healing so that she can move past the pain she’s been carrying. This is a powerful and moving opening entry in the Bellatrix range, and bodes well for the future books to come. While this is Kit de Waal’s first YA novel, it will hopefully not be the last!
November 4, 2020
DNF at 20%. i really wanted to like this book but i really just cant. 😭 the story isnt gripping enough for me to continue and maybe the genre itself its not what im used to read. also!! not a fan of switching of characters in every chapter. unfortunately unable to dive myself into it. :((
i was given a copy in exchange of an honest review.
i was given a copy in exchange of an honest review.
May 11, 2020
— 3.5 ✨
June 13, 2019
Thank you so much to the publishers Panmacmillan South Africa for providing me with a free advanced readers copy of this book.
Wow, I absolutely loved this story so much, from reading that first page till the last, I was invested in Dinah as a character. Her past, her identity, her perception of the world, how she got to where she is at the beginning of the book and how she developed over the course of one roadtrip. This book is inspired by Moby Dick, I never read Moby Dick but I did read this and I can tell you it is amazing! One of the best coming of age stories I've read in such a long time!
The book starts off with Dinah shaving her hair and soon we found out she now goes by the name Ishmael. The story is beautifully crafted, with every chapter we find out a little more about the past and how it all links and intertwines with where Ishmael (Dinah) is in the present timeline and ultimately how with each chapter she finds herself and becomes Dinah, her own true identity.
The book has beautiful themes and deals with topics like betrayal, obsession, heart ache, sexuality and faith in a very honest and true to life kind of way! I highly reccomend this book, to everyone and anyone. Whether your searching or know who you are, this book is definitely beneficial for you!
It has a diverse cast of characters, and Kit de Waal has a unique and enigmatic writing style! It's a quick read but packs a lot of punch!
This book comes out July 11th, but for us South African readers this book will be available in August 2019!
Love love love this story so much, Dinah is a force to be reckoned with. I guarantee you will love her!
Wow, I absolutely loved this story so much, from reading that first page till the last, I was invested in Dinah as a character. Her past, her identity, her perception of the world, how she got to where she is at the beginning of the book and how she developed over the course of one roadtrip. This book is inspired by Moby Dick, I never read Moby Dick but I did read this and I can tell you it is amazing! One of the best coming of age stories I've read in such a long time!
The book starts off with Dinah shaving her hair and soon we found out she now goes by the name Ishmael. The story is beautifully crafted, with every chapter we find out a little more about the past and how it all links and intertwines with where Ishmael (Dinah) is in the present timeline and ultimately how with each chapter she finds herself and becomes Dinah, her own true identity.
The book has beautiful themes and deals with topics like betrayal, obsession, heart ache, sexuality and faith in a very honest and true to life kind of way! I highly reccomend this book, to everyone and anyone. Whether your searching or know who you are, this book is definitely beneficial for you!
It has a diverse cast of characters, and Kit de Waal has a unique and enigmatic writing style! It's a quick read but packs a lot of punch!
This book comes out July 11th, but for us South African readers this book will be available in August 2019!
Love love love this story so much, Dinah is a force to be reckoned with. I guarantee you will love her!
December 15, 2019
Disclaimer: I receive a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I honestly was so confused with the story half of the time.
I feel like in the beginning everything was just so rush like I was suppose to know what is going on.
There was no storyline that got me excited and connected to the main characters.
I really felt it was going to be a good coming of age book but I guess the storyline just wasn't for me.
I honestly was so confused with the story half of the time.
I feel like in the beginning everything was just so rush like I was suppose to know what is going on.
There was no storyline that got me excited and connected to the main characters.
I really felt it was going to be a good coming of age book but I guess the storyline just wasn't for me.
April 24, 2020
This was a rather strange novel I must admit, it doesn't really feel as if it had much story to it. There is a journey of self discovery and questioning bisexuality but the writing style was so plain that it made the book boring. The sentences read like informational text, there's no emotion pouring out of the pages, there was nothing to grab me and keep me reading.
June 8, 2019
Clever, twisty.
November 23, 2019
Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy this novel. It only started getting interesting within the last few pages.
August 5, 2020
i gave this 3.5 stars, it was going to be 3 but for some reason the epilogue (which was like 4 pages) made me cry??? and was really good?? idk
things i liked
-gay yearning!!
-mixed race bisexual mc
-identity stuff
things i didn't like
-the plot
-the writing style
-it didn't have a very strong plot so was kinda confusing
-the gay yearning led nowhere & was one sided :((
i haven't read Moby Dick which this inspired by so maybe that affects it, i don't know, but the plot just felt so...pointles?? like there was no resolution or excitement or anything. i really liked queenie & dinah but then queenie ended up being straight?? i think this book would have been better if there was no road trip stuff or the commune breaking apart but focused on dinah going to school, her identity and sexuality & ended up with her getting together with queenie
things i liked
-gay yearning!!
-mixed race bisexual mc
-identity stuff
things i didn't like
-the plot
-the writing style
-it didn't have a very strong plot so was kinda confusing
-the gay yearning led nowhere & was one sided :((
i haven't read Moby Dick which this inspired by so maybe that affects it, i don't know, but the plot just felt so...pointles?? like there was no resolution or excitement or anything. i really liked queenie & dinah but then queenie ended up being straight?? i think this book would have been better if there was no road trip stuff or the commune breaking apart but focused on dinah going to school, her identity and sexuality & ended up with her getting together with queenie
July 22, 2019
Originally posted at my blog.
--
'Becoming Dinah' is the first in the Bellatrix collection of YA books recently launched by Hachette Children's Group which is focused on bringing attention to a diverse range of women's stories written by leading female voices. Kit de Waal reimagines the classic 1851 novel 'Moby Dick' by Herman Melville via our present-day society with the male sailor Ishmael going from a minor player in Captain Ahab's quest for revenge to a young woman important in her own right at the center of her coming-of-age story.
My knowledge of 'Moby Dick' is limited entirely to a vague notion of an obsessive captain pursuing a white whale to the point of madness. Luckily, knowledge of the source material isn't necessary in order to enjoy this book as it stands alone quite capably, but there are numerous references and more than likely in-jokes that only those familiar with the classic will recognize. The few twists on the original that I recognized were rather clever, for instance, Dinah and Ahab are in pursuit of a Volkswagen Campervan in Whale White (wink wink) which has been stolen with Ahab's prosthetic leg inside.
The narration is solely from Dinah's point of view, so it puzzled me to see the first several chapters numbered with Dinah's name next to it as though indicating an upcoming change in narrator until I saw chapter 7 with the name Ishmael. As Dinah only adopts this name on her mad adventure with Ahab, the author uses this to distinguish between chapters that explore Dinah's past leading up to the event that makes her feel she has no option but to run away from home, and chapters that focus on new developments in the road trip from hell. Sometimes with a split between past and present, the former may suffer for being less compelling as we want to keep reading about the main story arc without the constant flashbacks, but that isn't the case here as the author cleverly weaves in some intrigue to keep us invested in the past. There is the mystery in what led to Dinah fleeing in the first place as well as what caused the commune she grew up in to fall apart; astute readers may be able to guess in advance what unfolded, but knowing what happened and reading about it are two entirely separate things.
'The only season you can trust is the winter. Everything dies. You can rely on that.'
Ishmael feels the sadness oozing out of him and wants to tell him he's wrong, but right now, after everything she's done, maybe he's right. Ishmael couldn't wait to go to school, she thought it would change everything, that her life wouldn't be so boring, that she would make friends and find her place in the world. But it didn't turn out that way. You can't trust your hopes and your dreams, you can't trust anything. Sometimes the best thing is to run from your dreams, as far away as you can.
Dinah is an achingly believable and sympathetic protagonist who has been through more than her fair share of angst. Her childhood upbringing in a commune may not be relatable, but the heartbreak of family separation, losing a close friend who has outgrown you, trying to fit in at a new school and struggling to reconcile one's sexual orientation are universal themes that many people will identify with. While the effects of living on the commune weren't examined in great detail, seeing Dinah's efforts to assimilate into the public school system after being isolated from the real world her whole life felt new and fresh in YA.
As a child and teenager, small events can take on an importance of earth-shattering importance and even if objectively, a situation wasn't that big a deal and could be handwaved away, Dinah's narration successfully convinces the reader of her belief that it IS of the utmost significance. Most of us probably wouldn't resort to shaving their hair to deal with a moment of shock and panic, but it makes sense for Dinah as a method of forcing herself to leave her life behind and forge a new identity. Unfortunately for her, the commune's shadowy past hangs over Dinah and the supporting characters, providing a tangled web of betrayal, deceit, love and loss to be untangled throughout the story.
'The raven is a spirit animal, a guide. When she comes, she marks a moment, an important moment, and you must listen... The raven means rebirth. And she means release. A new beginning.'
As the title suggests, this story is about Dinah's journey to accepting who she is, and the impromptu road trip with Ahab leads to encounters with people that either shed light on different aspects of her personality or encourage growth and healing so that she can move past the pain she's been carrying. This is a powerful and moving opening entry in the Bellatrix range, and bodes well for the future books to come. While this is Kit de Waal's first YA novel, it will hopefully not be the last!
--
Disclaimer: Physical copy provided by publisher free for an unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
--
'Becoming Dinah' is the first in the Bellatrix collection of YA books recently launched by Hachette Children's Group which is focused on bringing attention to a diverse range of women's stories written by leading female voices. Kit de Waal reimagines the classic 1851 novel 'Moby Dick' by Herman Melville via our present-day society with the male sailor Ishmael going from a minor player in Captain Ahab's quest for revenge to a young woman important in her own right at the center of her coming-of-age story.
My knowledge of 'Moby Dick' is limited entirely to a vague notion of an obsessive captain pursuing a white whale to the point of madness. Luckily, knowledge of the source material isn't necessary in order to enjoy this book as it stands alone quite capably, but there are numerous references and more than likely in-jokes that only those familiar with the classic will recognize. The few twists on the original that I recognized were rather clever, for instance, Dinah and Ahab are in pursuit of a Volkswagen Campervan in Whale White (wink wink) which has been stolen with Ahab's prosthetic leg inside.
The narration is solely from Dinah's point of view, so it puzzled me to see the first several chapters numbered with Dinah's name next to it as though indicating an upcoming change in narrator until I saw chapter 7 with the name Ishmael. As Dinah only adopts this name on her mad adventure with Ahab, the author uses this to distinguish between chapters that explore Dinah's past leading up to the event that makes her feel she has no option but to run away from home, and chapters that focus on new developments in the road trip from hell. Sometimes with a split between past and present, the former may suffer for being less compelling as we want to keep reading about the main story arc without the constant flashbacks, but that isn't the case here as the author cleverly weaves in some intrigue to keep us invested in the past. There is the mystery in what led to Dinah fleeing in the first place as well as what caused the commune she grew up in to fall apart; astute readers may be able to guess in advance what unfolded, but knowing what happened and reading about it are two entirely separate things.
'The only season you can trust is the winter. Everything dies. You can rely on that.'
Ishmael feels the sadness oozing out of him and wants to tell him he's wrong, but right now, after everything she's done, maybe he's right. Ishmael couldn't wait to go to school, she thought it would change everything, that her life wouldn't be so boring, that she would make friends and find her place in the world. But it didn't turn out that way. You can't trust your hopes and your dreams, you can't trust anything. Sometimes the best thing is to run from your dreams, as far away as you can.
Dinah is an achingly believable and sympathetic protagonist who has been through more than her fair share of angst. Her childhood upbringing in a commune may not be relatable, but the heartbreak of family separation, losing a close friend who has outgrown you, trying to fit in at a new school and struggling to reconcile one's sexual orientation are universal themes that many people will identify with. While the effects of living on the commune weren't examined in great detail, seeing Dinah's efforts to assimilate into the public school system after being isolated from the real world her whole life felt new and fresh in YA.
As a child and teenager, small events can take on an importance of earth-shattering importance and even if objectively, a situation wasn't that big a deal and could be handwaved away, Dinah's narration successfully convinces the reader of her belief that it IS of the utmost significance. Most of us probably wouldn't resort to shaving their hair to deal with a moment of shock and panic, but it makes sense for Dinah as a method of forcing herself to leave her life behind and forge a new identity. Unfortunately for her, the commune's shadowy past hangs over Dinah and the supporting characters, providing a tangled web of betrayal, deceit, love and loss to be untangled throughout the story.
'The raven is a spirit animal, a guide. When she comes, she marks a moment, an important moment, and you must listen... The raven means rebirth. And she means release. A new beginning.'
As the title suggests, this story is about Dinah's journey to accepting who she is, and the impromptu road trip with Ahab leads to encounters with people that either shed light on different aspects of her personality or encourage growth and healing so that she can move past the pain she's been carrying. This is a powerful and moving opening entry in the Bellatrix range, and bodes well for the future books to come. While this is Kit de Waal's first YA novel, it will hopefully not be the last!
--
Disclaimer: Physical copy provided by publisher free for an unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 10, 2019
This novel is one of the first in a new series of books for young adults under the imprint of Bellatrix which will be feminist retellings of classic tales. Becoming Dinah is a retelling of Moby Dick. I have not read Moby Dick but was drawn to this novel by the promise of the series and also by the author Kit de Waal whose earlier book 'My Name is Leon' was a beautifully written story from the point of view of a 9 year old boy. I was not disappointed and believe Kit de Waal to have a superb way of capturing the voice of her young protagonists. Some of the character names and the central plot line (a hunt for a missing prosthetic leg!) are shared with Moby Dick. Dinah (also known as Ishmael, the name of the narrator in Moby Dick) was brought up in a commune which has recently fallen apart. She is grappling with her place in the world and her sexuality. An impulse leads her to decide to shave her head, run away from home and change her name to Ishmael, which is what she would have been called had she been born a boy. Her attempt is thwarted however when Ahab, owner of the commune land, convinces her to drive him in a hunt for his missing prosthetic which he had left in a camper van which has been stolen from him. Although she has only had four driving lessons, the promise of payment from Ahab convinces her to participate. The ensuing adventures are hilarious, scary and heart-warming as Dinah/Ishmael meets with Ahab's sister and her lover, with Pip the guitarist and a range of other interesting characters. En route she finds out more about herself, her extended family and the commune and reconciles herself with her identity. The characters were very well written and the tale well told. I look forward to more from Kit de Waal and to further books in the Bellatrix series. I would certainly recommend this one not only to others who enjoy contemporary literature but as a school novel for study.
August 17, 2019
We meet Dinah shaving her long locks with a grim determination to change everything and leave home. We don’t yet know why. Just that Dinah is mortified about a ‘mistake’ she has made. Slowly we get to know about Dinah and to feel her pain when her parents separate, her Father finding a new love, made more raw when this is the Mother of a boy for whom Dinah has feelings.
Dinah’s life in a commune was her Mother’s choice and at 17 Dinah has to beg to go to school. Although she stands out and is teased at first, another strong minded independent young woman befriends Dinah and she experiences many new feelings of fitting in, yet knowing she is different.
Dinah’s plans to leave home take a slight detour when she finds herself driving a one legged man in a camper van to retrieve his prosthetic leg! Along the way, Dinah meets a raven and another feisty female urging her to ‘find her tribe’. It is the raven who shows Dinah the way forward, to face her fears and do what she wants to do, not what is expected of her.
Dinah is growing up and experiencing feelings she can’t deal with. A typical teen, but with a different lifestyle from most teens. Kit de Waal has nailed these feelings expertly, and even though I am far from my teenage years I could fully appreciate Dinah’s state of mind. A brilliant read.
Dinah’s life in a commune was her Mother’s choice and at 17 Dinah has to beg to go to school. Although she stands out and is teased at first, another strong minded independent young woman befriends Dinah and she experiences many new feelings of fitting in, yet knowing she is different.
Dinah’s plans to leave home take a slight detour when she finds herself driving a one legged man in a camper van to retrieve his prosthetic leg! Along the way, Dinah meets a raven and another feisty female urging her to ‘find her tribe’. It is the raven who shows Dinah the way forward, to face her fears and do what she wants to do, not what is expected of her.
Dinah is growing up and experiencing feelings she can’t deal with. A typical teen, but with a different lifestyle from most teens. Kit de Waal has nailed these feelings expertly, and even though I am far from my teenage years I could fully appreciate Dinah’s state of mind. A brilliant read.
April 27, 2019
Becoming Dinah is a YA novel that takes the story of Moby Dick and turns it into one about a teenage girl running away from her unusual upbringing and the mistakes she's made. Dinah is seventeen and grew up in a commune. She shaves off her hair, packs a bag, and is about to try and hitch her way south when she is persuaded by Ahab, a grumpy man with one leg also from the commune, to illegally drive a VW campervan on a quest for him. As they travel, she reflects on what she is running from and tries to work out if it is really the right course for her.
This is a touching and powerful novel that requires no knowledge of Moby Dick, though it may then inspire people to read the original. The narrative is carefully revealed and the novel leaves a lot unspoken or not discussed until near the end, so the reader is also on a quest, to find out why Dinah is running away. Despite the commune upbringing, there are a lot of relatable parts to Dinah's story as it touches on topics such as families splitting up, sexuality, and feeling like an outsider.
Moby Dick may seem like an unusual choice for a YA modern reworking, but actually it allows themes of obsession and freedom to be explored through the eyes of a memorable protagonist.
This is a touching and powerful novel that requires no knowledge of Moby Dick, though it may then inspire people to read the original. The narrative is carefully revealed and the novel leaves a lot unspoken or not discussed until near the end, so the reader is also on a quest, to find out why Dinah is running away. Despite the commune upbringing, there are a lot of relatable parts to Dinah's story as it touches on topics such as families splitting up, sexuality, and feeling like an outsider.
Moby Dick may seem like an unusual choice for a YA modern reworking, but actually it allows themes of obsession and freedom to be explored through the eyes of a memorable protagonist.
September 18, 2019
Based on Moby Dick but for women. It was such a beautiful and surprising read. Dinah/Ishmael coming of age story is one of a kind. With family turmoil, exploring her sexuality and the emotional pain that she was holding inside herself, it was quite an interesting and read.
I really liked how Dinah's sexuality was a revelation to not just the readers but to Dinah as well. The subtleties and confusions of finding out what one's true sexuality and gender is very nicely represented in this book. I also really liked how Ahab was depressed and hurting but at the same time funny with dark humor. I loved how the pressures on Dinah made her anxious and she didn't even know how miserable she was feeling until she feels grateful when she crashes The Pequod and feels happy to be alive for both herself and for Ahab.
I also think the author must be a huge fan of campervans and vans and of restoring vintage cars or maybe its an English thing. There was a lot of detail about it. This book increased my general knowledge on the topic of vans quite a bit.
Overall a highly recommended book. I might suggest it for our bookclub :)
I really liked how Dinah's sexuality was a revelation to not just the readers but to Dinah as well. The subtleties and confusions of finding out what one's true sexuality and gender is very nicely represented in this book. I also really liked how Ahab was depressed and hurting but at the same time funny with dark humor. I loved how the pressures on Dinah made her anxious and she didn't even know how miserable she was feeling until she feels grateful when she crashes The Pequod and feels happy to be alive for both herself and for Ahab.
I also think the author must be a huge fan of campervans and vans and of restoring vintage cars or maybe its an English thing. There was a lot of detail about it. This book increased my general knowledge on the topic of vans quite a bit.
Overall a highly recommended book. I might suggest it for our bookclub :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2019
I wasn’t too sure what to expect with Becoming Dinah. TO be fair I didn’t read the blurb but was loving the cover but I’m glad I went in blind.
Because I went in blind I noticed that the chapters were headed with Dinah’s name, so I assumed that it was written from multiple point of views. However, you lean that it defines the past and the present of a main characters life. Dinah, the past and Ishmael the present, where she really finds out who she is.
The overall struggles that our character faces, may come across as what can only be defined as ‘normal’ teenage life, but you have to take into account the emotional heartache these events have for the long term. Which brings to light, how much we play down the young minds of the world and how their upbringing can shape them.
Though this story was delightful and eye opening I felt as though it missed out on the descriptions to build up the setting more. That is if I had to pick something that I wasn’t a fan of.
Over all Becoming Dinah was beautiful and well written.
Because I went in blind I noticed that the chapters were headed with Dinah’s name, so I assumed that it was written from multiple point of views. However, you lean that it defines the past and the present of a main characters life. Dinah, the past and Ishmael the present, where she really finds out who she is.
The overall struggles that our character faces, may come across as what can only be defined as ‘normal’ teenage life, but you have to take into account the emotional heartache these events have for the long term. Which brings to light, how much we play down the young minds of the world and how their upbringing can shape them.
Though this story was delightful and eye opening I felt as though it missed out on the descriptions to build up the setting more. That is if I had to pick something that I wasn’t a fan of.
Over all Becoming Dinah was beautiful and well written.
December 17, 2019
I received this book from Netgally in exchange for and honest review.
Took me a little while to get into the story, but once you are hooked (around 25%) get quite fast and easy. Her write ring style is smooth for the most part just a little clumsy in the flash backs and the ending felt rushed as unravels in the last 10% of the book and the proper explanation is in the last chapter which I didn’t particularly like. But I understand is for YA readers.
I got to remember my own teens and how passionate all feelings are and sometimes quite irrational and extreme particularly when you have no guidance. So that was my main concern about the story, as timber Dinah’s mother seems like a good wholesome adult I got a confused how is that out heroine reacts like a spoiled child? If she was brought up to more connected to nature and her emotions.
Nevertheless I enjoyed it and I’d recommend for sure. Just don’t expect nothing too special. This is more of a road trip with a confused teen, than a coming out story.
Took me a little while to get into the story, but once you are hooked (around 25%) get quite fast and easy. Her write ring style is smooth for the most part just a little clumsy in the flash backs and the ending felt rushed as unravels in the last 10% of the book and the proper explanation is in the last chapter which I didn’t particularly like. But I understand is for YA readers.
I got to remember my own teens and how passionate all feelings are and sometimes quite irrational and extreme particularly when you have no guidance. So that was my main concern about the story, as timber Dinah’s mother seems like a good wholesome adult I got a confused how is that out heroine reacts like a spoiled child? If she was brought up to more connected to nature and her emotions.
Nevertheless I enjoyed it and I’d recommend for sure. Just don’t expect nothing too special. This is more of a road trip with a confused teen, than a coming out story.
July 8, 2019
The classic tale Moby Dick is re imagined in this new coming of age story, with Dinah, our young Ishmael, driving a van named the Piquod owned by Ahab in search of a white van, stolen from him while his prosthetic leg was inside. Dinah just wants to get away from home, but as they travel further and further she starts to wonder about Ahab's state of mind.
I'm sure I missed a lot of the injokes in this since I'm not very familiar with Moby Dick, but the story is completely understandable without any knowledge. As a coming of age story it's interesting, though marred by several grammar and spelling errors, causing me to drop a star. I liked Dinah, a teenage girl who is scared of almost everything in her life but finds the strength to stand up to it anyway.
A very interesting read. I hope Kit de Waal writes more for teens, she has the knack.
I received a free copy and chose to post an honest review.
I'm sure I missed a lot of the injokes in this since I'm not very familiar with Moby Dick, but the story is completely understandable without any knowledge. As a coming of age story it's interesting, though marred by several grammar and spelling errors, causing me to drop a star. I liked Dinah, a teenage girl who is scared of almost everything in her life but finds the strength to stand up to it anyway.
A very interesting read. I hope Kit de Waal writes more for teens, she has the knack.
I received a free copy and chose to post an honest review.
June 21, 2021
This was a gripping and emotional tale of a young girl finding her way into being a young woman. Her feelings are raw, electric, and full of angst, love, hate, uncertainty, and shame. I absolutely love the connections to Moby Dock as it is one of my favorite novels of all time. In fact, I’m now itching to read it again. I most especially enjoyed the growing relationship between Ahab and Dinah/Ishmael and how they had so much to offer each other in terms of pain and healing. For me, a really touching, clever, and beautiful story. Oh, and loved loved loved the tiniest peppering of the paranormal/mythical/fantastical with the raven.
August 15, 2025
I did really like this book, especially as it switches from present to pst so you can get an insight to dinahs life. She’s from a commune where as she got older felt the constraints it brought , after being allowed to go to school she make one friend : queenie . She starts to develop feelings for her after kissing queenie dinah feels ashamed because the feeling wasn’t mutual. She cuts off all her hair and plans to run away. She’s stopped by Abdul a one legged man as he wants her to drive him after a man whose stole his van - dinah unwillingly agrees and they set off on an adventure ; crashing, meeting new friends, and redescoverung family
Uplifting fun and easy to read
Uplifting fun and easy to read
June 11, 2019
I really enjoyed this book reading it overnight. Dinah is escaping her old life with her over protective mum and isolated life. She is determined to make her own choices and find herself. Her road trip with Ahab gives her the space to confront some of her demons and come to her own decisions.
I have not read Moby Dick so was not aware of the parallels but I did enjoy her unconventionality and her desire to find herself and make her own adult choices.
A book I will be buying for my school library.
I have not read Moby Dick so was not aware of the parallels but I did enjoy her unconventionality and her desire to find herself and make her own adult choices.
A book I will be buying for my school library.
July 16, 2019
The blurb didn't truly reveal what this book was about. Revealed over the course of the book, we find out that Dinah/Ishamael was brought up on a commune which fell apart very suddenly.
While I wanted to know what happened between Dinah and Queenie, why she chose the drastic action of losing her lovely locks, I wasn't invested enough in her as a person and it was only the intrigue that kept me going, not the characters.
The writing is en pointe and manages the switches back and forth without disruption.
While I wanted to know what happened between Dinah and Queenie, why she chose the drastic action of losing her lovely locks, I wasn't invested enough in her as a person and it was only the intrigue that kept me going, not the characters.
The writing is en pointe and manages the switches back and forth without disruption.
August 8, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley for the arc.
Kit de Waal has created a wonderful re-imagining of Moby Dick.
Dinah is a teenager, who was brought up in a commune run by Ahab, the now angry neighbour up the road. She has done something that she shouldn't have done, and Dinah has to escape.
Her complicated family relationships felt real, and so does Dinah's voice. Kit de Waal has done a great job of highlighting our alienation (created by ourselves and others), and need to fit in. Her coming of age journey was lovely to follow.
Kit de Waal has created a wonderful re-imagining of Moby Dick.
Dinah is a teenager, who was brought up in a commune run by Ahab, the now angry neighbour up the road. She has done something that she shouldn't have done, and Dinah has to escape.
Her complicated family relationships felt real, and so does Dinah's voice. Kit de Waal has done a great job of highlighting our alienation (created by ourselves and others), and need to fit in. Her coming of age journey was lovely to follow.
February 27, 2020
In this retelling of the Moby Dick story, we meet Dinah, a young woman brought up in a commune and having little interaction with the outside world. When her parents split up and her father leaves, Dinah loses her sense of direction and her identity. Embarking on a chase across the country with Ahab to reclaim his stolen campervan, the pair encounter danger and find self discovery along the way.
In Kit de Waal's novel, Dinah captures your heart as she struggles to make sense of her life and gains acceptance of who she is.
In Kit de Waal's novel, Dinah captures your heart as she struggles to make sense of her life and gains acceptance of who she is.
April 17, 2021
Plot triggers: fear, cheating, injury
I’m not normally interested in stories about finding yourself. I think the exist for a specific point in life as you’re growing up, so everyone kind of has their own ‘go to’ book that got them through those tricky young adult years. However, I vaguely recalled hearing a lot about ‘Becoming Dinah’ and when I saw this in the boxes in our school library I thought I’d pick it up and give it a go.
It was actually pretty good, even though I’m (supposedly) an adult now, it was engaging enough that I finished it within a couple of hours, and the main character was definitely likeable and relatable. There was a fair bit that was ‘out there’ for the average teen/young adult - such as the fact that Dinah has lived in a commune all her life, but there was also a lot that was clearly relatable for younger audiences today - such as Dinah’s family issues and her questioning her sexuality.
Overall a good read 🙂
I’m not normally interested in stories about finding yourself. I think the exist for a specific point in life as you’re growing up, so everyone kind of has their own ‘go to’ book that got them through those tricky young adult years. However, I vaguely recalled hearing a lot about ‘Becoming Dinah’ and when I saw this in the boxes in our school library I thought I’d pick it up and give it a go.
It was actually pretty good, even though I’m (supposedly) an adult now, it was engaging enough that I finished it within a couple of hours, and the main character was definitely likeable and relatable. There was a fair bit that was ‘out there’ for the average teen/young adult - such as the fact that Dinah has lived in a commune all her life, but there was also a lot that was clearly relatable for younger audiences today - such as Dinah’s family issues and her questioning her sexuality.
Overall a good read 🙂
January 16, 2022
I love the storyline! It’s a great option for the young ones struggling with their own identity, finding their real self. I love the character Dinah. Being an 18 year old girl, with family problems and trying so hard to find her place within her father’s new family is certainly hard to accept. She rebels, knowing that no one loves her anymore esp her dad. She refuses to accept the fact that her dad fell in love with her best friend’s mom and chose to leave her and her mom in agony. Her bravery to leave her mother and off to find her own way is truly a turning point in her life!
February 9, 2021
such a great story on self discovery, coming of age theme esp from an teenage girls perspective. it's sad as well tho cause you get the reality of how families break up and not everyone is happy and not everyone gets a happy ever after. things aren't always fair, but you move on and grow. Dinah/Ishmael tugs on your heartstrings from the first few pages, and i was pretty sucked in which surprised me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2019
Unusual story
This is a story for everyone who feels they don’t quite belong, whether because they are a different colour, have an unusual social background, from a broken family or because they are attracted to the same sex. It is really a coming of age book and, I am pleased to say, it has a happy ending.
This is a story for everyone who feels they don’t quite belong, whether because they are a different colour, have an unusual social background, from a broken family or because they are attracted to the same sex. It is really a coming of age book and, I am pleased to say, it has a happy ending.
October 8, 2019
This was a very special book for me because what happened to Dinah resonated so much with me on a highly personal level.
De Waal did a wonderful job at portraying these character's flaws and fears - not just Dinah's, but also Ahab's, her father's, her mother's, Jonah's and Caroline's. I enjoyed every minute of it and every emotion Dinah went through, I also went through.
De Waal did a wonderful job at portraying these character's flaws and fears - not just Dinah's, but also Ahab's, her father's, her mother's, Jonah's and Caroline's. I enjoyed every minute of it and every emotion Dinah went through, I also went through.
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