The Prophecy of the Stones
From ChildLitWiki
Contents |
by Flavia Bujor
Notes
Bibliographic Data
Original Publication Date: April 2004
Publisher: Hyperion
Imprint: [[]]
ISBN: 0786818352
Hardcover Price: $16.95
Paperback Price: $
Number of Pages: 386
Best for ages: 9-12
Library of Congress Descriptor: Three girls, known as the Stones of Prophecy, are drawn to a land called Fairytale, where they and a man called the Chosen One seek Oonagh, a magical creature who explains their role in a battle between Good and Evil.
Categorization
Type of Book: Chapter/Fiction
Genres: Fantasy
Topics and Themes: , Fantasy, Translation, Magic, Prophecies, Books by Kids
Summary
When they turn fourteen, three very different girls, Amber, Opal, and Jade, are sent away from their homes, each carrying a special stone, and told that an ancient prophecy has decreed that they must be sent in ignorance to find their destinies. They soon find each other and, though initially suspicious and snippy, travel together to try to discover the secret of their fate. Meanwhile a nameless knight tries to discover who he is. Meanwhile again a girl lies dying and dreaming in present-day Paris.
The three girls and the Nameless One eventually become involved in a battle between Good and Evil against the evil bureaucrats of the Council of Twelve and their Army of Darkness. What the Parisian girl has to do with anything is never made clear.
Reviews
One can picture the Publishers sitting in their Dark Tower.
"We must make more money," says one.
"Hey, that kid Paolini's book made a bundle," says another. "People like books written by kids. Let's publish another."
"But we haven't got anything."
"What about that Romanian kid? The public will love that -- a kid writer and Romanian! She'll be on Today and Oprah in no time!"
"But it stinks."
"Who cares? It'll make a fortune!"
And so the evil deed was done. A bright fourteen-year-old writes a story. It's pretty good for a kid. No doubt her writing teacher is thrilled. Unfortunately, there's more to professional writing than stringing together hundreds of pages of clichés. Some of the usual requirements are a plot that makes some sense, characters that behave at least somewhat believably, and, in a fantasy, a world that has some rules, even if they're invented. This book has none of the above. Not for one second do you ever forget it was written by a child.
So what's the harm? There's nothing really objectionable here, except really really bad writing, which isn't one of our categories of parental concerns. Although many kids will find it dreary and ridiculous, some will enjoy it. The only harm comes in confusing young readers about what constitutes good writing. When they read R. L. Stine, they know they're reading garbage -- it's a guilty pleasure. But this book, by virtue of the age of the author, is already getting far more respect than it deserves. In her eighth grade writing class it is worthy of respect. But in the world of publishing this should never have seen print. And if an adult had written it, it wouldn't have.
-- Matt Berman, Family Wonder and Common Sense Media
Excerpt
Amber expected to see a charming prince straight out of a fairy tale, gallant and poetic, but Adrien looked more like a young knight with hard, chiseled features. He seemed thoughtful and self-possessed, and only his grave eyes revealed the courage and fire that burned inside him. His tousled chestnut hair added to the aura of brooding mystery that surrounded him ... And then it came to her: she understood, she knew, that she was made to love those gray-green eyes. She was certain that she and Adrien should be together -- it could not be otherwise.
Publisher Info and Jacket Copy
Relateds
Other Books Written by Kids
The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
This Can't be Happening at McDonald Hall by Gordon Korman
Druidawn by Miriam Darnell
Home by Kimberly Fuller
Eragon by Chris Paolini
Other Editions
Concerns
Violence: A few battles, not described in detail.
