The Phantom of the Opera (A Stepping Stone Book(TM)) [Library Binding]

Gaston Leroux (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 27, 2005 | Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up | Series: A Stepping Stone Book(TM)

The lights dim at the Paris Opera House. The exquisite Christine Daae enraptures the audience with her mellifluous voice. Immediately, Raoul de Chagny falls deeply in love. But the legend of the disfigured "opera ghost" haunts the performance, and as Raoul begins his pursuit of Christine, he is pulled into the depths of the opera house, and into the depths of human emotions. Soon Raoul discovers that the ghost is real and that he wields a terrifying power over Christine--a power as unimaginable as the ghost's masked face. As Raoul and the ghost vie for Christine's love, a journey begins into the dark recesses of the human heart, where desire, vulnerability, fear, and violence unravel in a tragic confrontation.


From the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Ingenious . . . breathless suspense.”—The Nation


From the Trade Paperback edition.

From the Inside Flap

"The story of the monster man whose horrible deformities cause fear and terror, his search for love and acceptance, and his haunting of the opera house in Paris is told in very simple language. Beautifully adapted, the story flows along so easily that readers will be immediately caught up in the tangle of events and emotions. McMullan conveys all of the anger, grief, joy, and love that make the phantom a truly believable character. Will attract reluctant readers."--School Library Journal.   --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Library Binding: 96 pages
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (September 27, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 039493847X
• ISBN-13: 978-0394938479
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #644,476 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Way To Get Kids Into Phantom, February 15, 2005

By 

Kristina - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Phantom of the Opera (A Stepping Stone Book) (Paperback)

First, this is an adaptation of the original story written by Leroux. It's a good way to get kids interested in the Phantom of the Opera. I read this first, before I read the original novel. And I have to tell you, I read the book in one day! Seriously, for some reason I remember that, and a friend of mine read it in only a few hours. It's a very good book and the pictures are nice, too, wonderful black-and-white ink pictures that go very nicely with the story.

If you want to get your child interested in Phantom of the Opera I would suggest that you have him or her read this.

It's a lot easier to understand than the original novel. And if he or she wants to read the original then, they can. It's a really great book.It explains a lot of stuff that wasn't there in the musical.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to understand, February 23, 2006

By 

C. Pendergrass "Homeschool mom of ten" (Southern California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Phantom of the Opera (A Stepping Stone Book) (Paperback)

This version of The Phantom of the Opera is an excellent one for beginning readers and adults as well. For beginners, it is an easy-to-understand way to introduce the classic work. But this is also true for older readers. The unabridged version is an excellent book, but it might be hard to follow or just plain intimidating for many readers. Reading the Stepping Stone version first will give a clear understanding of the book. For instance, time jumps around in the regular version - and the history of the Phantom isn't even given until the very end. The Stepping Stone version proceeds from start to finish with the normal time frame. Readers who enjoy the book, will find the transition to reading the "real" book much easier. Stepping Stones are a great way to ease kids and adults into classic reads.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Phantom of the Opera, November 30, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Phantom of the Opera (A Stepping Stone Book) (Paperback)

If you're looking for a scary love story, then this is the book for you! Eric has the voice of an angel but the face of a monster. When he takes his ask off people scream and run away. So, he hides himself away in the bottom of the opera house.

Eric falls in love with a beautiful singer named Christine. Christine is forced to love him but she loves another man named Raul. Raul knows about the phantom and wants to hurt him.

The phantom scares everybody by turning the lights off and tacks Christine to his dungeon there she sees Raul in the dungeon...but you will have to read the book to hear the ending.