Synopses & Reviews
Step inside Mr. Elives' magic shop, where the shelves are stocked with strange and mysterious goods. The children in these five books each leave the shop with magical items intended especially for them. In The Monster's Ring, Russell Crannaker, bullied all his life, gets a chance to fight back when he is given a monstrous magical item. In Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher, a boy receives a small marbled dragon's egg—and when it hatches, his wildest dreams take wing. In Jennifer Murdley's Toad, a girl "in a plain brown wrapper," buys a talking toad who knows a thing or two about the true nature of beauty. In The Skull of Truth, Charlie Eggleston, the biggest liar in town, steals a skull from the shop, and it puts him under some sort of spell: He can only tell the truth—but now no one believes him! And in Juliet Dove, Queen of Love, a shy girl suddenly becomes the most popular girl in school when she wears the ancient amulet given to her at the magic shop. These funny and fantastic tales are collected in a boxed set, perfect for gift-giving.
Review
Praise for THE MONSTER'S RING ABAs Pick of the Lists
IRA Childrens Choice “This lively tale . . . [will] appeal, at any time, to anyone who, like Russell, is ‘very fond of monsters.”—The New York Times Book Review “A Halloween romp, with Katherine Covilles illustrations revving up the chills and giggles. . . . A junior Jekyll and Hyde.”—Publishers Weekly Praise for JEREMY THATCHER, DRAGON HATCHER IRA Teachers' Choice Marion Vannett Ridgway Award Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award Nevada Young Readers' Award Texas Lone Star Reading List Utah Children's Book Award * "A funny, enjoyable, imaginative story whose serious undercurrents lend it unexpected depth."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review "Will bring laughter and near tears to readers. . . . Dragons really exist for a little while."—School Library Journal Praise for JENNIFER MURDLEY'S TOAD California Young Reader Medal Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award Georgia Children's Book Award "Endlessly funny. . . . A roller-coaster ride of a story, full of humor and even wisdom."—Kirkus Reviews "[A] light, fast-paced fantasy."—Booklist Praise for THE SKULL OF TRUTH A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Society of School Librarians International Honor Book * "A fast-moving, rollicking, yet serious tale. . . . Will keep youngsters thinking."—School Library Journal, starred review "This skillfully told, fast-paced fantasy ranges in mood from serious to scary, but it's always laced with humor."—The Horn Book Praise for JULIET DOVE, QUEEN OF LOVE "Coville's easy style works well in a tale that has its share of both humor and heartache."—Booklist "Surprising depth, with musings on honor, power, strength, courage, and, above all, love. . . . Interweaves mythological characters with realistic modern ones, keeping readers truly absorbed."—School Library Journal
Review
* "A fast-moving, rollicking, yet serious tale, [that] will keep youngsters thinking."and#8212;
School Library Journal, starred review
"This skillfully told, fast-paced fantasy ranges in mood from serious to scary, but it's always laced with humor."and#8212;The Horn Book and#160; Children's Choice Award Nominee and#160; A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
and#160; School Librarians International Honor Book
Review
"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.'"and#8212;
The New York Times Book Review and#160; "The mix of monsters, magic, and Halloween has a built-in appeal."and#8212;
Booklist and#160; and#160; "Bruce Coville's story is a Halloween romp, with Katherine Coville's illustrations revving up the chills and giggles . . . a junior Jekyll and Hyde."and#8212;
Publishers Weekly and#160; and#160; and#8226; ABA's Pick of the Lists and#160; and#8226; Children's Choice Award Nominee (in four states) and#160; and#8226; IRA Children's Choice
Review
"Endlessly funny . . . A roller-coaster ride of a story, full of humor and even wisdom."and#8212;
Kirkus Reviews and#160; "[A] light, fast-paced fantasy."and#8212;
BooklistReview
"Coville's easy style works well in a tale that has its share of both humor and heartache."—
Booklist "Surprising depth, with musings on honor, power, strength, courage, and, above all, love . . . Interweaves mythological characters with realistic modern ones, keeping readers truly absorbed."—
School Library JournalReview
Praise for
Dealing with Dragons, the first volume of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles:
"What a charmer! A decidedly diverting novel with plenty of action and . . . laugh-out-loud reading pleasure."--Booklist (starred review)
"Full of excitement . . . and good humor. Wrede's delightful voice is all her own."--School Library Journal (starred review)
Review
Praise for DEEP AND DARK AND DANGEROUS:
“Stormy weather, a deep, dark lake, and many unanswered questions (keep) mystery and ghost story fans turning pages right up to the end."—TeensReadToo.com
"Satisfyingly chilly."--Kirkus Reviews
Praise for WAIT TILL HELEN COMES:
* "A first-rate thriller."--Booklist, starred review
"Genuninely scary, complete with dark secrets from the past, unsettled graves, and a very real ghost."--Bulletin
Praise for ALL THE LOVELY BAD ONES:
"Deliciously spooky."--Kirkus Reviews
"[A] fast-paced ghost story that readers will relish, shivering all the while."--SLJ
Review
* "A funny, enjoyable, imaginative story whose serious undercurrents lend it unexpected depth."and#8212;
Kirkus Reviews, starred review and#160; "Not only is the story involving but the reader can really get a feeling for Jeremy as a person."and#8212;
VOYA and#160; "Will bring laughter and near tears to readers. . . . Dragons really exist for a little while."and#8212;
School Library Journal Children's Choice Award Nominee (in sixteen states)
IRA Teachers' Choice
Review
Praise for the Dead Is series
"[Perez] delivers a wise-cracking, boy-lusting, determined sleuth of a high school protagonist . . . this quick, lighter-than-air spoof of the undead, cheerleaders and popularity is pure pleasure."—Publishers Weekly
"A fun ride from start to finish. Perez's smart and sassy style soars."—Mary E. Pearson, author of the Jenna Fox Chronicles
"[A] quick, lively romp. . . . Teens looking for a breezy read will find plenty to like here."—Booklist
"This super supernatural murder mystery is sassy, romantic, and spooky-fun!"—Cynthia Leitich Smith, author of Tantalize
"Light romance and a paranormal plot are more tongue-in-cheek than scary, making this series a good introduction to the genre for younger readers."—Booklist
"Breezy style and comic-book plot. . . . Fun."—Kirkus
Synopsis
Visit Bruce Coville's Magic Shop in these five fantastic books for middle grade readers, together in a boxed set perfect for gift giving.
Synopsis
Step inside Mr. Elives' magic shop, where the shelves are stocked with strange and mysterious goods. The children in these five books each leave the shop with magical items intended especially for them.In The Monster's Ring, Russell Crannaker, bullied all his life, gets a chance to fight back when he is given a monstrous magical item.In Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher, a boyreceives a small marbled dragon's egg and when it hatches, his wildest dreams take wing.In Jennifer Murdley's Toad, a girl "in a plain brown wrapper," buys a talking toad who knows a thing or two about the true nature of beauty.In The Skull of Truth, Charlie Eggleston, the biggest liar in town, steals a skull from the shop, and it putshim under some sort of spell: He can only tell the truth but now no one believes him And in Juliet Dove, Queen of Love, a shy girl suddenly becomes the most popular girl in school when she wears the ancient amulet given to her at the magic shop.These funny and fantastic tales are collected in a boxed set, perfect for gift-giving."
Synopsis
A new edition of aand#160;belovedand#160;favorite
Synopsis
Mr. Elivesand#8217;s magic shop is back, and this time it is on the other side of Tuckerand#8217;s Swamp. And Tuckerand#8217;s Swamp is where Charlie Eggleston heads to escape a beating-for lying. Charlie canand#8217;t seem to keep from lying, though sometimes his lies are for a good cause. When Charlie stumbles into Mr. Elivesand#8217;s magic shop, his eyes light upon The Skull. Charlie steals The Skull and it puts him under some sort of spell-he can only tell the truth. Trouble is, now no one believes him. . . .
Synopsis
The book that gave us our first peek inside Mr. Elives' Magic Shop--now in a brand-new paperback edition
Synopsis
Twist it once, you're horned and haired;Twist it twice and fangs are bared;
Twist it thrice? No one has dared!
and#160; Russell is sure that the ring he gets at Mr. Elives' shop is just a silly magic trick, but he follows the instructions and twists the ring twice anyway--and becomes a monster! and#160; Includes an author's note.
Synopsis
A top-selling Magic Shop book, now in a brand-new paperback edition!
Synopsis
Jennifer Murdley, a homely fifth-grader who would give anything to be beautiful, accidentally stumbles into a magic shop and purchases a very ugly toad. The toad, it turns out, can talk and ends up getting Jennifer into the worst trouble of her life. This madcap, head-spinning adventure is also a thought-provoking story about the nature of true beauty.
Synopsis
The newest novel in Bruce Coville's bestselling, award-winning Magic Shop series!
Synopsis
Shy Juliet Dove leaves Mr. Elives' magic shop with Helen of Troy's amulet--a virtual man magnet. Juliet doesn't know what she's got, but soon every boy in town is swoony for her. Yet, much as she'd like to lose all the unwanted attention, she can't: The amulet won't come off!
A sidesplittingly funny, heartbreaking whirlwind of a book about the high cost of loving, from the award-winning author of My Teacher Is an Alien and The Unicorn Chronicles.
Synopsis
This delightfully witty fantasy series by Patricia Wrede is brought together in one gorgeous package. Titles include Dealing with Dragons, Searching for Dragons, Calling on Dragons, and Talking to Dragons.
Synopsis
Collected together for the first time are Patricia C. Wrede's hilarious adventure stories about Cimorene, the princess who refuses to be proper. Every one of Cimorene's adventures is included in its paperback edition--
Dealing with Dragons, Searching for Dragons, Calling on Dragons, and
Talking to Dragons--in one handsome package that's perfect for gift giving.
Synopsis
The perfect gift for lovers of ghost stories.
Three of Mary Downing Hahns scariest ghost stories are in this handsome boxed set: Wait Till Helen Comes, All the Lovely Bad Ones, and Deep and Dark and Dangerous.
Synopsis
Sixth-grader Jeremy Thatcher discovers a strange magic shop he has never seen before. He enters, and his life is changed forever. Buying what he thinks is a marble, he discovers he has really purchased a dragonand#8217;s egg. and#160;
Synopsis
The first five books in this top-selling tween paranormal series, brought together in a boxed set perfect for gift giving
Synopsis
"This super supernatural murder mystery is sassy, romantic, and spooky-fun!"--Cythia Leitich Smith, author of
Tantalize
Welcome to Nightshade, California—home to the psychic Giordano sisters, who have a way of getting mixed up in mysteries. During their investigations, they run across everything from pom pom-shaking vampires to shape-shifting boyfriends. They can crack any case! This boxed set contains the series first five books: Dead Is the New Black, Dead Is a State of Mind, Dead Is So Last Year, Dead Is Just a Rumor, and Dead Is Not an Option. Its a boxful of paranormal antics served with a hearty dose of humor.
About the Author
Mary Downing Hahn is the award-winning author of many popular ghost stories and mysteries, including Deep and Dark and Dangerous, The Old Willis Place, and Closed for the Season, which won the 2010 Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery. A former librarian, an avid reader, traveler, and all-around arts lover, Ms. Hahn lives in Columbia, Maryland with her two cats, Oscar and Rufus. www.MaryDowningHahnBooks.com
Table of Contents
Contents
The Magic Shop 1
With a Twist of the Ring... 9
The Battle in the Cafeteria 16
Russell v. His Father's Mouth 25
Eddie's Revenge 31
Double Whammy 39
Russell Goes Berserk 47
The Beast Within 54
The Third Twist of the Ring 62
Russell to the Rescue 70
Partners 76
Return to the Magic Shop 83
Home Run 93
Epilogue 99
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR 103