The Black Pearl (Hardcover)

by Scott O'Dell (Author), Milton Johnson (Illustrator) "Everyone who lives in our town La Paz, or along the far coasts or among the high mountains of Baja California, has heard of the..." (more)
Key Phrases: Manta Diablo, Father Gallardo, Vermilion Sea (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
A 16-year-old boy does battle with an enormous devilfish that guards a rare, black pearl. PW said this 1968 Newbery Honor Book reverberates with "proud admiration of the courage of the human spirit." Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review
"A gripping story that will hold practically any age enthralled." -- Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children; 1ST edition (September 9, 1967)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395069610
• ISBN-13: 978-0395069615
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (75 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #398,715 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Black Pearl, June 6, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Black Pearl (Newberry Honor Book) (Paperback)

The book The Black Pearl has a very interesting story. This book takes place in La Paz, Baja California. In this book, Ramon wants to prove to his father, Blas Salazar, that he is just as good as Sevillano, Ramon's worst enemy and Ramon's father's best pearl diver, at pearl diving. Manta Diablo, the monster of the deep, guards "The Pearl of the Heavens," the ocean's biggest pearl, that Ramon wants to dive for. Ramon got "The Pearl of the Heavens" and brought back home. When Ramon tells his father about the pearl, his father gives it to the church. Luzum, an old Indian tells Ramon that he should give it back to the Manta Diablo because the monster will come after him. I recommend this book to both girls and boys who are at the age of thirteen and under because I don't think people over the age of thirteen would be interested in this book. I don't think that people over the age of thirteen would like the book because I don't it's exciting enough. Overall I thought this was a good book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Black Pearl , June 6, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Black Pearl (Newberry Honor Book) (Paperback)

In The Black Pearl, Ramon a sixteen year old boy living in La Paz, where everyone believes in the Manta Diablo. He wants to be a pearl diver like his father. The Manta Diablo is said to be bigger than any ship they had, he had eyes shaped like a moon and seven of them. He also had seven rows of teeth that were as sharp as knifes. Old men would tell stories about him around fires and mothers would threaten their children that they would talk to him if they were naughty. When Ramon turns sixteen he starts to work with his father in the pearl business. At first he works behind a desk weighing pearls, but more than anything he wants to dive with pearls. His father won't teach him so he gets his friend Luzon to teach him how to dive. While he is diving he finds the Pearl of the Heaven. Luzon tells him to through the pearl back because it belongs to the Manta Diablo but he doesn't want to throw it back. He has to think for himself about what he wants to do. I thought the book was good. It had a slow start and didn't have very much action. Even so I like the story just not how it was written. I think that boys and girls under the age of twelve will like this book the best. I think that they would understand the story, how it is written and some of them would like it

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Black Pearl, September 3, 2000

By	Kathleen Evangelista (Ringoes, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Black Pearl (Newberry Honor Book) (Paperback)

At 16, Ramon was finally allowed to go with his father and dive for pearls. The only thing is that he has to stay aboard the ship, for pearl diving is much too dangerous. Shortly after he properly learns how to dive, Ramon finds the great Pearl of Heaven in the Manta Diablo's cave. The same Manta Diablo that he had heard frightening stories of as a small child. But Ramon's joyous occasion is cut short when bad things begin to happen... I enjoyed this book very much. It keeps the reader in suspense for most of the story, so the only way for you to find out what happens next is for you to read the book. Enjoy!