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Overview
Celebrate twenty years of magic with Bruce Coville!Bruce Coville's The Monster's Ring did more than launch his career as a children's novelist, it also introduced readers to the world of Mr. Elives' Magic Shop, where boys hatch dragons, toads talk, skulls spout Shakespeare, and the heroes and heroines of Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher , Jennifer Murdley's Toad , The Skull of Truth , and next year's Juliet Dove, Queen of Love find enchantment, adventure, and insight. Now available in twentieth anniversary editions, each of these modern classics has been given a new afterword by the author and stunning new jacket art by Tony DiTerlizzi.
Twist it once, you're horned and haired;
Twist it twice and fangs are bared;
Twist it thrice? No one has dared!
Russell is sure that the ring is just a silly magic trick, but he follows the instructions and twists the ring twice anyway—and becomes a monster!
• ABA's Pick of the Lists
• Children's Choice Award Nominee (in four states)
• IRA Children's Choice
Author Biography: Bruce Coville is the bestselling author of dozens of books, including The Monsters of Morley Manor , Armageddon Summer (cowritten with Jane Yolen), The Skull of Truth, Jennifer Murdley’s Toad , and Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher. He lives in Syracuse, New York.
A timid boy, eager to frighten the school bully on Halloween night, acquires a magic ring and the power to change himself into a hideous monster.
Synopsis
Celebrate twenty years of magic with Bruce Coville!
Publishers Weekly
Bruce Coville's first novel, The Monster's Ring: A Magic Shop Book, about a bullied boy whose purchase of a green ring in a magic shop ensures a trouble-free future, returns in an expanded 20th anniversary edition. (Sept.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
Editorials
Publishers Weekly
Bruce Coville's first novel, The Monster's Ring: A Magic Shop Book, about a bullied boy whose purchase of a green ring in a magic shop ensures a trouble-free future, returns in an expanded 20th anniversary edition. (Sept.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.Publishers Weekly
"A Halloween romp, with Katherine Coville's illustrations revving up the chills and giggles . . . A junior Jekyll and Hyde."Children's Literature
In this novel, Bruce Coville introduces his readers to Russell Crannaker, a fifth-grade student who faces daily ridicule and bullying by a fellow classmate named Eddie. One day after Eddie chases Russell down an alley, Russell stumbles into Mr. Elive's Magic Shop. Here Russell hands over a dollar to Mr. Elive who, in return, gives him a strange-looking green ring. Once Russell gets home, he studies the ring and soon learns of its promise of "monstrous magic," which will protect him for the rest of his life. Soon Russell discovers the ring's ability to transform him into a horrible, monstrous being and the fear he can strike in many people—including his tormentor, Eddie. Bruce Coville's novel tells an entertaining and delightful story. Its fantastical elements of a young boy transforming into a monster with the twist of a special ring create quite a magical and mysterious tale. Although this is a fantasy novel, Coville does a wonderful job of making it appear true to life. Not only is the novel fun and easy to read, it is quite inspiring with the valuable lesson it conveys. 2002 (orig. 1982), Harcourt,— Sarah Sutphin
The New York Times Book Review
"This lively tale . . . will appeal, at any time, to anyone who, like Russell, is 'very fond of monsters.' "From the Publisher
"This lively tale . . . is more than just another story about [Halloween]. . . . It is a good book that will appeal, at any time, to anyone who, like Russell, is 'very fond of monsters.'"—The New York Times Book Review"The mix of monsters, magic, and Halloween has a built-in appeal."—Booklist
"Bruce Coville's story is a Halloween romp, with Katherine Coville's illustrations revving up the chills and giggles . . . a junior Jekyll and Hyde."—Publishers Weekly