The Eye of the Stone [Hardcover]

Tom Birdseye (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

When he is pulled into another world called Timmra, thirteen-year-old Jackson finds he must fight the horrible monster Baen and arbitrate a mounting struggle between the Timran and Yakonan peoples.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-In this fantasy adventure, 13-year-old Jackson Cooper discovers a magic amulet that takes him to a society akin to the early Middle Ages. Here, Jackson, taunted as a wimp at home, is hailed as a hero, drawing false confidence from the magic stone. However, during a battle with a rival tribe, it summons a monstrous demon called the Baen, which kills or wounds many people. Jackson follows the Baen into a hellish abyss in search of the Shaw-Mara, an enchanted flute made from the demon's teeth, which will bring peace. After returning the flute to the tribes, Jackson is transported home with the maturity and courage to face the challenges of his own world. A few aspects of the story are not well explained. Jackson's gold chain, a gift from his father, appears to call up the Baen's stone amulet from a cave wall and bind the boy to the demon. Jackson sees his father's tortured image, turned to stone, in the Baen's abysmal subterranean landscape. What is this horrific underworld? How is the father, a short-tempered, unemployed mill worker, in league with a demon from an alternative universe? The open, awkward character of Jackson is appealing, but his dialogue seems dated. While the theme that hatred and prejudice can take the form of a war, a demon, or a bully is satisfying, significant details are too unresolved, and Jackson's discovery of the meaning of courage is a bit heavy-handed.
Valerie Diamond, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore, MD
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-6. We meet Jackson on his thirteenth birthday, steeling himself to ride his bike down a muddy, rocky hillside and knowing inside that he's about to chicken out again. Later that afternoon, he's unexpectedly transported from the Oregon landscape to a primitive civilization where warring groups look up to him as a person with magical powers. Initially buoyed by their respect, then downcast when he disappoints them, Jackson challenges himself to find the hidden reserve of courage to fight a vicious monster and bring peace to the people. Though the time-travel element is not entirely convincing, the story provides plenty of excitement for adventure fans.The parallels between Jackson's troubles at home and in the alternate world are well drawn in this fast-paced fantasy, which will probably appeal particularly to boys. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House; 1st edition (October 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823415643
• ISBN-13: 978-0823415649
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,196,461 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Very cool book, June 4, 2001

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Eye of the Stone (Hardcover)

My little brother loved reading this book. It's about a boy who accidently gets transported back in time and is treated like a wizard by the primitive people there. Then he tries to defeat a monster and get back to his own home.

It's a cool book that fantasy fans will like!