Review of The Monster's Ring by Bruce Coville
Award Winning Book Provides the Perfect Halloween Story
Fifth grader Russell Crannaker only wanted to get away from a school bully when he stumbled into Mr. Elives magic shop. But what began as a fascinating visit to a store full of magician’s supplies soon becomes a pulse pounding adventure when Russell winds up purchasing – The Monster’s Ring.
The Ultimate Halloween Costume
After finding instructions with the ring telling him how to transform himself into a hideous monster, Russell is convinced the ring is a simple magic trick like the X-ray specs he bought from a comic book. But he mutters the magic chant, twists the ring once, and to his shock horns grow from his forehead! Hair sprouts over his face. His fingernails transform into claws. What will his mother say?
Fortunately, the ring comes with a counter charm to turn Russell back into a boy again, making Russell realize he can become a monster anytime he wants. Elated, Russell decides to use the ring to create the ultimate Halloween costume.
A Halloween Story for All Ages
Soon, Russell finds another use for the ring – to get back at the school bully Eddie for pushing him around. At first, things go great. Eddie can’t believe puny Russell Crannaker is able to stand up to him. But slowly the ring begins changing Russell’s personality, making him angrier and more vicious.
A Great Monster Book
Then on Halloween, Russell puts the ring on one more time and twists it three times – summoning a transformation more amazing and terrifying than anything he could imagine. Can Russell control his magic? Or has he finally gone too far with The Monster’s Ring?
The Magic Shop Books
Originally released in 1982, The Monster's Ring received great reviews, winning the Children's Choice Award in 1983 and the 1984-1985 Children's Book Award in South Carolina.
According to the author’s note Coville included in his book Jennifer Murdley’s Toad (1992), The Monster’s Ring was originally going to be followed by a book of tales about Mr. Elives’ Magic Shop. Yet Coville’s fascination with the shop, along with his difficulty with writing short stories, eventually turned these tales into a series of novels.
Soon, several Magic Shop Books emerged, including Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher (1991), Jennifer Murdley’s Toad (1992), The Skull of Truth (1997), and Juliet Dove, Queen of Love (2003). A short story featuring Elives’ magic shop, “The Metamorphosis of Justin Jones,” also appears in Coville’s anthology Odder Than Ever (2000).
In each of these stories, a boy or girl stumbles into the magic shop and comes away with a magical item – from a dragon’s egg to a smart-mouthed frog to a truth-telling skull – that will change their life for good and ill. Just as Russell’s own transformations made him realize the consequences of his actions, Elives’ other customers all learn responsibility through their own magical adventures.
In 2002, Coville released a 20th Anniversary edition of The Monster’s Ring, revised and expanded to include characters from the other Magic Shop Books. Although fun to read and compare with its earlier version, the original remains the ultimate Halloween story – fast, funny, and scary enough to make you want to leave your bedroom light on.
Coville, Bruce. The Monster’s Ring. NY: A Minstrel Book, 1982. ISBN: 0-671-64441-6
Coville, Bruce. The Monster’s Ring: 20th Anniversary Edition. NY: Scholastic, 2002. ISBN: 978-0439809030
Like reading scary stories? Learn how popular author Darren Shan created his frightening Cirque du Freak book series at The Real Darren Shan, then find more book recommendations at Great Children's Books About Vampires and Ghosts and Weird and Scary Nonfiction Trivia Books for Kids.
And learn more about Bruce Coville's sci fi and fantasy books at the Official Website of Bruce Coville.
The Monster's Ring
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