The Skull of Truth: A Magic Shop Book [Hardcover]

Bruce Coville (Author), Gary A. Lippincott (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2002 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Magic Shop Book

Now available in a twentieth anniversary edition, this modern classic has been given a new afterword by the author and stunning new jacket art by Tony DiTerlizzi.

Charlie Eggleston is the biggest liar in town. But after he steals The Skull, he finds he can only tell the truth--and now no one believes him!

• Children's Choice Award Nominee (in seven states)
• A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
• School Librarians International Honor Book

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6. A boy noted for his propensity for telling lies inadvertently acquires an ancient skull that forces him to speak the truth, resulting in situations both funny and poignant.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

[star]"A fast-moving, rollicking, yet serious tale, [that] 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

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152046127
• ISBN-13: 978-0152046125
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,488,492 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bruce Coville was born in Syracuse, New York, in 1950. His family lived in farm territory, about twenty miles north of Syracuse. Bruce grew up around the corner from his grandparents' dairy farm, where he spent a great deal of time as a child, dodging cows and chores to the best of his ability. As a young reader he loved Mary Poppins and Dr. Dolittle, and still has fond memories of rising ahead of the rest of his family so he could huddle in a chair and read THE VOYAGES OF DR. DOLITTLE. He also read lots of things that people consider junk (Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, and zillions of comic books). His only real regret is the time he spent watching television, when he could have been reading instead. (A mind is a terrible thing to waste!)

His first book, THE FOOLISH GIANT, was published in 1978. It was illustrated by his wife, Katherine, whom he had married in 1969. This was followed in 1979 by SARAH'S UNICORN, also illustrated by Katherine. After a long period of working separately, the Covilles began collaborating again with SPACE BRAT and GOBLINS IN THE CASTLE, both published in 1992.

Before getting published Bruce earned his living as a toymaker, a gravedigger, a cookware salesman, an assembly line worker, and finally as an elementary school teacher (second and fourth grades). He left teaching in 1981 to devote himself to becoming a full time writer - though it took another five years to achieve that goal!)

Bruce has published nearly 100 books, which have appeared in over a dozen countries around the world and sold more than sixteen million copies. Among his most popular titles are MY TEACHER IS AN ALIEN, INTO THE LAND OF THE UNICORNS, and THE MONSTER'S RING. In 2001 he founded Full Cast Audio, an audiobook company dedicated to creating unabridged, full cast recordings of the best in children's and young adult literature.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just as good as Jeremy Thatcher and Jennifer Murdley's toad!, July 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Skull of Truth: A Magic Shop Book (Hardcover)

After reading Jeremy Thatcher Dragon Hatcher and Jennifer Murdley's Toad, you'd think there couldn't be any book better. Yet the Skull of Truth was awesome. One problem? WHen I tell people that this is one of my favorite books, they laugh at the title and won't read it. Bruce Coville writes beautiful, captivating books, yet sadly, people might not take them seriously because of titles. I didn't until I read one1 Once again, Mr. Coville, you wrote another "winner"!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Skull of Truth the Review, October 29, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Skull of Truth: A Magic Shop Book (Magic Shop Books) (Paperback)

THE SKULL OF TRUTH, by Bruce Coville is a very interesting book to read. Bruce has written many books such as JEREMY THATCHER, DRAGON HATCHER. He usually writes scary books that send a chill down your back. He is the winner of the New York State Knickerbocker Award, for quality in children's literature.

I give this book four stars, because this book was interesting and all, but some parts were there that shouln't have been. This book also teaches a lesson the lesson is never to lie.

The main characters were Charlie, the skull Yorick, Mr. Elves, Gilbert, and Uncke Bennie. My favorite from them all was Yorick, the skull because he was funny and he never lied, he had a great personality. These characters show a real meaning of friendship.

This book also explains that the truth can help you in some situations. for example, Charlie gets cursed with the truth when he finds the skull and has to tell the truth all the time. The lies will not come out of his mouth. One day Charlie tells his best friend, Gilbert, he looks funny with his bald head and Gilbert is mad at him. The next day Charlie goes to Gilbert's house to apologize, he tells the truth to Gilbert what was in his heart and Gilbert fogives him.

The books main settings are at the swamp, the school, and at Gilbert's and Charlie's houses. I like a lot of parts, but the best part I like was when Charlie finds a skull and the skull never shuts-up, just to annoy Charlie. It is funny!

Another good thing about this book is how the author gives a lot of descriptions. For example, Charlie squashes a bug and the gooey guts and blood come out.

I recommend this book for people who like stories with gruesome descriptions and magical things. I enjoyed reading this book!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT!!!, January 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Skull of Truth: A Magic Shop Book (Hardcover)

I love the way Coville uses such a mixture of feelings, from Charlie's friend with cancer to the humorous skull Yorick, Coville uses so many real emotions that it seems as if you could really feel Charlie's compassion, annoyance, & love. A great book. It's a worthy sequel to Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher, & Jennifer Murdley's Toad.