The Amazing Power of Ashur Fine [Hardcover]

Donald J. Sobol (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 31, 1986 | Age Level: 10 and up

Endowed with an extraordinary power by an ancient African elephant, sixteen-year-old Ashur Fine finds himself relying on it as he tries to bring his aunt's mugger to justice.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-7 Sixteen-year old Ashur Fine, a shy animal-lover, is jolted out of his quiet life when Methuselah, an ancient African elephant at the zoo, chooses him to receive special powers to defend animals. Still unsure of what these powers are, Ashur is caught up in a search for two men who mugged his aunt, who is a private investigator. Gradually he discovers that he can become any person he chooses, for a short time. Using this power, Ashur tracks the muggers to Arizona and brings them to justice. Sobol's writing here is different from the straightforward language of his popular Encyclopedia Brown series. He uses a slick, fast-paced, cinematic style full of imagery. The idea of the Power has plenty of potential both for excitement and humor. (The hero becomes Joe Louis at one point, and Franz Liszt at another.) Ashur is an appealingly resourceful character. Unfortunately, Sobol has overcomplicated his plot so that the relationship of different elements is unclear. The elephant gives Ashur power to help animals, but he uses it to help humans. In spite of these weaknesses, Sobol fans who have graduated from Encyclopedia Brown will undoubtedly be happy to find a new offering from their favorite author. The last pages hint at a sequel and another meeting with Methuselah. Ruth S. Vose, San Francisco Public Library
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 114 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; 1st edition (October 31, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0027862704
• ISBN-13: 978-0027862706
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,352,766 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good book!, May 17, 1999

By 

Hypatia (New York, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Amazing Power of Ashur Fine (Hardcover)

In this book Ashur Fine gets the power to gain the abilities and knowledge of anyone for ten minutes. He uses these abilities as he tracks down a kidnapped man and solves a case of a missing diamond among other things. I read this book a very long time ago, and I remember it being one of my favorites.