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Cleopatra's Legacy #1
The Emerald Ring
Ordinary tween life turns upside down when Ancient Egypt intrudes on modern middle school life. Twelve year old Sara Guadalupe Bogus reads about adventures, but unexpectedly is drawn into one when a mystical emerald ring that once belonged to Cleopatra becomes stuck on her finger.
A series of burglaries spook Sara’s small Ohio hometown. Concluding that the root of all the crimes is the emerald ring, Sara realizes it’s up to her and her friends, Heidi and African exchange student Kainu, to save the town and protect Cleopatra’s legacy. Filled with magic, the ring thrusts Sara into a world filled with nightmares, allows her to shape shift into an Egyptian cat and battle assassins.
A series of burglaries spook Sara’s small Ohio hometown. Concluding that the root of all the crimes is the emerald ring, Sara realizes it’s up to her and her friends, Heidi and African exchange student Kainu, to save the town and protect Cleopatra’s legacy. Filled with magic, the ring thrusts Sara into a world filled with nightmares, allows her to shape shift into an Egyptian cat and battle assassins.
192 pages, Paperback
First published May 14, 2013
11 people are currently reading
686 people want to read
About the author
Dorine White
7 books111 followersHi, my name is Dorine White and I love books, reading and writing them. I am the author of several middle grade and YA fantasy novels including The Awakening and The Cleopatra's Legacy Series. I am a member of the SCBWI, ANWA, LDS Storymakers and the PNWA. I graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA in Humanities. . Contact me at authordorine@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
May 14, 2013
(This review can be found on my blog The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl).
I was super excited to be asked if I wanted to be part of the Emerald Ring Blog Tour by the author, Dorine White. After reading the synopsis of this book, I definitely wanted to give it a read. All in all, I definitely enjoyed it!
Sara is a 12 year old girl, who, after finding an emerald ring at her grandmother's house, realizes she can shape-shift into a cat. She's also started having some really strange dreams as well. When a bunch of burglaries start happening close to her neighborhood, she takes it upon herself to put everything together to figure out who is behind them all. Will Sara's find out what the thief wants and why she's having strange dreams? Or will the magic of the emerald ring be too much?
I do like the title of this book. It's very straight-forward which I believe is a good thing as it's a middle grade fantasy novel. You know exactly what this book is going to be about. I think the title would definitely appeal to middle schoolers as well as adults.
The cover definitely suits the book. I like how there's a picture of the ring on the cover. I also like the sarcophagus on the cover. It's a nice touch! I believe the cover will appeal to children in middle school very much.
The world building in this novel is believable especially for a child in junior high. The dreaming sequences were very well written as were the scenes at Sara's school and house. I had no problem using my imagination to set up the world in which this novel took place.
The pacing in this novel is great!! Even as an adult, I thought it flowed rather nicely. I devoured this book in no time at all. Each chapter ran smoothly into the next. It was terrific!
The characters, for the most part, are well written. Sara reminded me of a 12 year old girl with her thought process and the way she acted. I loved her curiosity about everything. Heidi, Sara's best friend, was my favorite character. She always had Sara's back and was a big help when it came to Sara's adventure. I wish she was featured a bit more in the story though. I do think she was a bit too trusting of everything Sara told her though. I don't think most 12 year olds would be that gullible. Kainu was a believable character but I kept forgetting that he was supposed to be African. He spoke very good English for someone from Africa. It is explained how he learned how to speak English, but I don't know. I still felt as if he spoke English a little too well. Plus, Kainu's story wasn't that believable being as he's only 12 years old. I won't go into more detail because I don't want to give any spoilers away. Perhaps middle schoolers won't pick up on any of the character flaws.
The dialogue was fun to read. I enjoyed Sara's internal dialogue the best. I loved reading about how she felt and what she thought. There were a few words that I think middle school children wouldn't know the meaning of. Even I struggled with a few of the words, but there aren't many so it doesn't take away from the book.
Overall, The Emerald Ring by Dorine White is a cute, fun story which will be enjoyed by all middle school children. In fact, I think it will be enjoyed by most adults as well. The plot is interesting, and the characters are fun. At the very least, it may get children interested in Ancient Egyptian history.
I'd recommend this book to everyone age 11+ because it's such a fun and cute story.
The Emerald Ring (Cleopatra's Legacy #1) by Dorine White gets a 4.5 out of 5.
(I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review).
I was super excited to be asked if I wanted to be part of the Emerald Ring Blog Tour by the author, Dorine White. After reading the synopsis of this book, I definitely wanted to give it a read. All in all, I definitely enjoyed it!
Sara is a 12 year old girl, who, after finding an emerald ring at her grandmother's house, realizes she can shape-shift into a cat. She's also started having some really strange dreams as well. When a bunch of burglaries start happening close to her neighborhood, she takes it upon herself to put everything together to figure out who is behind them all. Will Sara's find out what the thief wants and why she's having strange dreams? Or will the magic of the emerald ring be too much?
I do like the title of this book. It's very straight-forward which I believe is a good thing as it's a middle grade fantasy novel. You know exactly what this book is going to be about. I think the title would definitely appeal to middle schoolers as well as adults.
The cover definitely suits the book. I like how there's a picture of the ring on the cover. I also like the sarcophagus on the cover. It's a nice touch! I believe the cover will appeal to children in middle school very much.
The world building in this novel is believable especially for a child in junior high. The dreaming sequences were very well written as were the scenes at Sara's school and house. I had no problem using my imagination to set up the world in which this novel took place.
The pacing in this novel is great!! Even as an adult, I thought it flowed rather nicely. I devoured this book in no time at all. Each chapter ran smoothly into the next. It was terrific!
The characters, for the most part, are well written. Sara reminded me of a 12 year old girl with her thought process and the way she acted. I loved her curiosity about everything. Heidi, Sara's best friend, was my favorite character. She always had Sara's back and was a big help when it came to Sara's adventure. I wish she was featured a bit more in the story though. I do think she was a bit too trusting of everything Sara told her though. I don't think most 12 year olds would be that gullible. Kainu was a believable character but I kept forgetting that he was supposed to be African. He spoke very good English for someone from Africa. It is explained how he learned how to speak English, but I don't know. I still felt as if he spoke English a little too well. Plus, Kainu's story wasn't that believable being as he's only 12 years old. I won't go into more detail because I don't want to give any spoilers away. Perhaps middle schoolers won't pick up on any of the character flaws.
The dialogue was fun to read. I enjoyed Sara's internal dialogue the best. I loved reading about how she felt and what she thought. There were a few words that I think middle school children wouldn't know the meaning of. Even I struggled with a few of the words, but there aren't many so it doesn't take away from the book.
Overall, The Emerald Ring by Dorine White is a cute, fun story which will be enjoyed by all middle school children. In fact, I think it will be enjoyed by most adults as well. The plot is interesting, and the characters are fun. At the very least, it may get children interested in Ancient Egyptian history.
I'd recommend this book to everyone age 11+ because it's such a fun and cute story.
The Emerald Ring (Cleopatra's Legacy #1) by Dorine White gets a 4.5 out of 5.
(I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review).
January 11, 2013
After Sara discovers an emerald ring in her grandmother's attic, strange things start to happen. The ring refuses to get off her finger, for one thing, and Sara has dreams transporting her back to ancient Egypt. She tries to find out more about the ring's past, but she's not the only one interested in it. Sara has to use her wits and the special powers given to her by the ring to outsmart the bad guy before he gets her first.
The Emerald Ring is a not-so-run-of-the-mill middle grade fantasy novel laced with mystery and intrigue. It has just enough surprises to keep kids turning the page to see what happens next. The author has a real knack with "kid lingo" and has used diverse cultures to her advantage.
Definitely a book I can recommend with confidence.
The Emerald Ring is a not-so-run-of-the-mill middle grade fantasy novel laced with mystery and intrigue. It has just enough surprises to keep kids turning the page to see what happens next. The author has a real knack with "kid lingo" and has used diverse cultures to her advantage.
Definitely a book I can recommend with confidence.
February 2, 2013
5 STARS
The Emerald Ring is the first book in Cleopatra's Legacy. It is a paranormal,fantasy,action book. I thought it
was a fresh idea. I would read the next book if one comes in this series.
Sara found a emerald ring in her grandmother's attic and put it on. It shocked her. She tried to get it off and she could not get it off. It was on pretty tight. Sara's grandmother tried butter, cold water but still could not get it off.
That night Sara had nightmares that seemed real to her and she slept with the light on the rest of the night. Sara started middle school. Her first day was interesting. She got to take the new kid around. His name is Kainu Nehru from Nigeria, Africa.
Then in her first period she thought the girl behind her was talking to her and called her name. Sara reacted and got sent to Principle office.
Heidi is Sara's best friend. Her house got broke into during the day and was searched. Heidi and her mom got to spend the night at Sara's house because her father was out of town. Sara told her of the voice she heard and other things she noticed. Heidi had a hard time believing her. So they did a experiment and proved that now Sara could smell really good and identfy items just by smell. Sara could also hear animals speaking sometimes.
Then things got weirder and Sara ended up in the hospital with a high fever. They could not figure out what was going on with her but Sara figured it out. She had a new power that would shock anyone if it happened to them.
Thier new friend told them about what brought him to thier town. He was after a thief who stole something from his family that had been with the tribe for years. He overheard them say where they were going and that they were after a emerald ring. Kainu told them he guessed it might be the ring that Sara wore.
The Emerald ring was Cleopatra's. The emerald was part of a necklace with other stones that had powers. The thief was part of a group that has been searching for the stones. Kainu's father had one of the stones. He is now in a coma after the thief surprised him and hit him in the head. Now Sara could be in danger.
This is aimed at Middle school age. I liked it even though I am way older than that by a few decades. It is a very entertaining story. Lots of action and a little bit of history.
I was given this ebook to read and asked to give a honest review of it when I finshed by Netgalley.
Expected publication: May 14th 2013 by Cedar Fort, Inc. 192 pages ISBN 1462111335
BOOK DISCRIPTION TAKEN OF GOODREADS.
Ordinary tween life turns upside down when Ancient Egypt intrudes on modern middle school life. Twelve year old Sara Guadalupe Bogus reads about adventures, but unexpectedly is drawn into one when a mystical emerald ring that once belonged to Cleopatra becomes stuck on her finger.
A series of burglaries spook Sara’s small Ohio hometown. Concluding that the root of all the crimes is the emerald ring, Sara realizes it’s up to her and her friends, Heidi and African exchange student Kainu, to save the town and protect Cleopatra’s legacy. Filled with magic, the ring thrusts Sara into a world filled with nightmares, allows her to shape shift into an Egyptian cat and battle assassins.
The Emerald Ring is the first book in Cleopatra's Legacy. It is a paranormal,fantasy,action book. I thought it
was a fresh idea. I would read the next book if one comes in this series.
Sara found a emerald ring in her grandmother's attic and put it on. It shocked her. She tried to get it off and she could not get it off. It was on pretty tight. Sara's grandmother tried butter, cold water but still could not get it off.
That night Sara had nightmares that seemed real to her and she slept with the light on the rest of the night. Sara started middle school. Her first day was interesting. She got to take the new kid around. His name is Kainu Nehru from Nigeria, Africa.
Then in her first period she thought the girl behind her was talking to her and called her name. Sara reacted and got sent to Principle office.
Heidi is Sara's best friend. Her house got broke into during the day and was searched. Heidi and her mom got to spend the night at Sara's house because her father was out of town. Sara told her of the voice she heard and other things she noticed. Heidi had a hard time believing her. So they did a experiment and proved that now Sara could smell really good and identfy items just by smell. Sara could also hear animals speaking sometimes.
Then things got weirder and Sara ended up in the hospital with a high fever. They could not figure out what was going on with her but Sara figured it out. She had a new power that would shock anyone if it happened to them.
Thier new friend told them about what brought him to thier town. He was after a thief who stole something from his family that had been with the tribe for years. He overheard them say where they were going and that they were after a emerald ring. Kainu told them he guessed it might be the ring that Sara wore.
The Emerald ring was Cleopatra's. The emerald was part of a necklace with other stones that had powers. The thief was part of a group that has been searching for the stones. Kainu's father had one of the stones. He is now in a coma after the thief surprised him and hit him in the head. Now Sara could be in danger.
This is aimed at Middle school age. I liked it even though I am way older than that by a few decades. It is a very entertaining story. Lots of action and a little bit of history.
I was given this ebook to read and asked to give a honest review of it when I finshed by Netgalley.
Expected publication: May 14th 2013 by Cedar Fort, Inc. 192 pages ISBN 1462111335
BOOK DISCRIPTION TAKEN OF GOODREADS.
Ordinary tween life turns upside down when Ancient Egypt intrudes on modern middle school life. Twelve year old Sara Guadalupe Bogus reads about adventures, but unexpectedly is drawn into one when a mystical emerald ring that once belonged to Cleopatra becomes stuck on her finger.
A series of burglaries spook Sara’s small Ohio hometown. Concluding that the root of all the crimes is the emerald ring, Sara realizes it’s up to her and her friends, Heidi and African exchange student Kainu, to save the town and protect Cleopatra’s legacy. Filled with magic, the ring thrusts Sara into a world filled with nightmares, allows her to shape shift into an Egyptian cat and battle assassins.
February 8, 2013
The Emerald Ring (Cleopatra's Legacy), by Dorine White, opens with the coolest dream sequence I've read in a middle grade novel. Dreams and fear are big issues for Sara Bogus. Sure, she's starting middle school and that's enough to scare anyone, but Sara doesn't have the kind of nightmares where you show up to math class in your underwear. Sara's dreams are linked to the ancient, powerful ring she found in her grandma's attic--and someone else is after it. To make matters worse, Sara is pretty sure she's losing it. How else can she explain hearing voices that seem to come from nowhere?
Throughout the book, Sara's dreams become more intense as her connection to the magic relic deepens. Sara, her best friend Heidi, and their new friend Kainu work together to uncover the ring's past. They turn to an expert, fortune-teller Angela, to help Sara learn to master the ring's intense power. In the process, Sara finds the inner confidence she'll need to survive her encounter with the dangerous thief and maybe even middle school.
The Emerald Ring was a fun book. White's characters are well-developed: her tweens are sufficiently reluctant to confide in adults, but the adults are responsible and concerned. I was glad to find the dialogue between Sara and her friends fresh and modern, but stopping short of sounding like a sit-com. Although the subtitle "Cleopatra's Legacy" and the details surrounding that legacy leave plenty of room for the author to build a series, Sara's story was satisfying and complete.
Throughout the book, Sara's dreams become more intense as her connection to the magic relic deepens. Sara, her best friend Heidi, and their new friend Kainu work together to uncover the ring's past. They turn to an expert, fortune-teller Angela, to help Sara learn to master the ring's intense power. In the process, Sara finds the inner confidence she'll need to survive her encounter with the dangerous thief and maybe even middle school.
The Emerald Ring was a fun book. White's characters are well-developed: her tweens are sufficiently reluctant to confide in adults, but the adults are responsible and concerned. I was glad to find the dialogue between Sara and her friends fresh and modern, but stopping short of sounding like a sit-com. Although the subtitle "Cleopatra's Legacy" and the details surrounding that legacy leave plenty of room for the author to build a series, Sara's story was satisfying and complete.
November 21, 2013
I thought this was a very creative adventure that is perfect for the middle grade reader--or others who enjoy a fun, clean, fantasy adventure. I loved how there was a mystery going on--well, several, actually--and it was up to these young 6th graders to figure things out. I remember being that age and thinking how cool it would be to have some type of mystery to solve or some adventure to my life. I loved the magical elements of the ring and the way that Sara handled things, really using her brain and friends to think of ways to solve things.
I think one of my favorite things about the book is the message that it's okay to befriend people who are a little bit different from yourself and you might just discover that they have more in common with you than you think.
I would love to read the rest of the books in the series. This one tied up nicely, but left things a little open for the next adventure. It sounds like there are 5 jewels and I'm guessing that there's a story surrounding each one.
Content: mild violence. Clean.
I think one of my favorite things about the book is the message that it's okay to befriend people who are a little bit different from yourself and you might just discover that they have more in common with you than you think.
I would love to read the rest of the books in the series. This one tied up nicely, but left things a little open for the next adventure. It sounds like there are 5 jewels and I'm guessing that there's a story surrounding each one.
Content: mild violence. Clean.
April 23, 2013
Hi, it's me, Dorine. Here is what the book is about in my own words.The Emerald Ring is a fast-paced, action filled read for young readers. Kids won't get bored as they follow Sara's adventures.
Sara herself is a Guatemalan/American girl who yearns for adventure, but is crippled by nightmares. She also has a deep fear of becoming like her mother, who suffers from panic attacks. Sara evolves throughout the story, taking on her fears head first, and in the final scene, asks for her friends to turn out the lights. A total reversal of the first scene.
Cleopatra and Egypt are main themes of the novel, along with magic.For animal lovers, Cleopatra's cat takes a major role in the story as she guides Sara through her shape-shifting transformations and teaches her the magic uses of the emerald ring.
A fun-filled magical adventure with bits of history. Please enjoy- Dorine, The Author
Sara herself is a Guatemalan/American girl who yearns for adventure, but is crippled by nightmares. She also has a deep fear of becoming like her mother, who suffers from panic attacks. Sara evolves throughout the story, taking on her fears head first, and in the final scene, asks for her friends to turn out the lights. A total reversal of the first scene.
Cleopatra and Egypt are main themes of the novel, along with magic.For animal lovers, Cleopatra's cat takes a major role in the story as she guides Sara through her shape-shifting transformations and teaches her the magic uses of the emerald ring.
A fun-filled magical adventure with bits of history. Please enjoy- Dorine, The Author
April 12, 2013
Just when I think the world has run out of awesome middle grade adventure novels, I find this. It is a short, fast paced adventure that left me wanting more. Thankfully, the ending suggested that there might be more books. I just hope that Dorine White doesn't get writer's block. :)
This book will appeal to fans of adventure, creepy bad guys, mysterious magical jewelry, good friends, and ancient legends. Highly recommended!
Content: clean
My blog: Books for Kids
This book will appeal to fans of adventure, creepy bad guys, mysterious magical jewelry, good friends, and ancient legends. Highly recommended!
Content: clean
My blog: Books for Kids
June 28, 2013
A fun, easy read for younger readers or reluctant readers of this age group.
September 20, 2017
Sara Bogus, a 12 year old girl, finds an emerald ring in her grandmothers attic. What she doesn't know is that the emerald ring that she found once belonged to Cleopatra. When Sara puts on the ring, it won't budge, the ring is stuck on her finger. Sara then discovers that the ring gave her a special power, that can help her to her best ability to help stop the recent burglaries. Marcus, the burglar, tries to find the ring with his magical cuff. Marcus wants to find the ring so he can take over the world. Sara's new friend Kainu, a new foreign exchange student from Africa, has come to reclaim the cuff that once belonged to his father. Sara, Kainu, and Sara's best friend Heidi work together to get the magical cuff back. Throughout the story Sara realizes strange consequences come from wearing the ring. But will she be able to stop the evil mastermind?
Sara changes from all the many things she has learned. It all starts when Sara picks up the ring. The ring will change her life forever. She changes because of the influence of the ring. Ever since she put on the ring she has been having nightmares every night which causes her to sleep with the light on. She also has to make the sacrifice of disobeying her parents and sneaking out at night from time to time. Another way that Sara has changed is that she must learn to use her power, because of this, it changes the way of how she lives her life and how she acts. Also, because of the burglaries happening in her neighborhood, Sara decides she must step up. This changes her from being a regular kid into a hero. From what she has gone through and will go through, she has definitely made a drastic change to her life.
In my opinion I thought this book was really good. Anybody that loves mythology and magic, this is the book for you. I enjoy that the hero in this story was about a young girl. I liked that it was about a girl, because it shows that anybody can be a hero. I also enjoyed that it included the history of ancient Egypt. There was some parts I didn't like though. One thing was is that sometimes the story got a little confusing. I also didn't like the power she had. It didn't really make sense to me. But in the end, I did enjoy this book and recommend it to people that like reading books about magic.
Sara changes from all the many things she has learned. It all starts when Sara picks up the ring. The ring will change her life forever. She changes because of the influence of the ring. Ever since she put on the ring she has been having nightmares every night which causes her to sleep with the light on. She also has to make the sacrifice of disobeying her parents and sneaking out at night from time to time. Another way that Sara has changed is that she must learn to use her power, because of this, it changes the way of how she lives her life and how she acts. Also, because of the burglaries happening in her neighborhood, Sara decides she must step up. This changes her from being a regular kid into a hero. From what she has gone through and will go through, she has definitely made a drastic change to her life.
In my opinion I thought this book was really good. Anybody that loves mythology and magic, this is the book for you. I enjoy that the hero in this story was about a young girl. I liked that it was about a girl, because it shows that anybody can be a hero. I also enjoyed that it included the history of ancient Egypt. There was some parts I didn't like though. One thing was is that sometimes the story got a little confusing. I also didn't like the power she had. It didn't really make sense to me. But in the end, I did enjoy this book and recommend it to people that like reading books about magic.
December 24, 2021
This is a fantastic middle-grade fantasy. The story grabs you right from the beginning and pulls you through until the end. The plot is tightly written, the characters are likable, and the story is original and magical. I am eager to read the remaining books in the series.
October 24, 2017
it was pretty good, and I hope to find the next in the series soon.
August 2, 2020
Great middle school adventure! Little bits of history intermixed with fantasy and adventure. My daughter loved this book!
March 19, 2023
I loved the characters so much. Sarah was so relatable and I loved the cat.
March 19, 2023
I really love this book. The characters were so cool, and the mystery was very interesting. one of my favorite books!!!!!!
March 20, 2023
SO GOOD
October 23, 2023
Cute story.
August 5, 2016
Very Ambitious and Mostly Successful Middle Grade Fantasy/Action
Sarah finds an emerald ring in grandma's attic and it turns out to have once been owned by Cleopatra herself. The ring has magical properties and launches Sarah and her friends into a number of interconnected adventures and escapades.
This is a very ambitious book and develops as it progresses into much more than the first few chapters might suggest. At the outset it looks like we'll get an amiable magic ring/chase fantasy with a fairly predictable plot arc. There are lots of books out there, (quite good ones), that use some magical MacGuffin to launch historical adventures. (For example, Jon Scieszka's "Time Warp Trio" series, or for younger kids the "Magic Treehouse" books.) That's what I expected here. I underestimated the author's ambition.
This book operates on several levels at once. We have Sarah's coming to grips with the ring's magical properties and the deeply unnerving effect it has on her. There is Sarah's research into the history of the ring. There is Sarah's research into Cleopatra and ancient Egypt. There is the running development of Sarah's and her BFF Heidi's changing, and strengthening, relationship in the face of these mysteries. There is middle grade school drama, (thankfully, just a bit of that). We explore Sarah's interactions with her parents, who know that something is going on and worry.
On top of that we have a third kid with a mysterious past and hidden agenda who joins the girls. Then, we have a mysterious eeevil character trying to steal the ring. Then, on top of all that, we have a strong dose of mystical connection between Sarah and Cleopatra's spirit, and a mystical cat spirit guide, and the involvement of other Egyptian god figures. Whew!
Some of this is setup for the remaining books in the series. (Each book will revolve around a different jewel; all of them from Cleopatra's necklace.) Some is probably due, I suspect, just to the fact that everywhere you turn there's another plot path worth exploring.
As you might imagine some of this can be clunky or unwieldy. Some parts feel grafted on as opposed to natural complements to the story. And, some of the angles feel underdeveloped. None of that detracts much from one's enjoyment of the book, and I consider it just the price you pay when an author is swinging for the fences.
The author has opted for a spare, clear no nonsense narrative style, light on description and scene setting and heavy on action and forward momentum. This is not fine "literary" writing; it is for the most part serviceable. That feels like a good choice for this series and for this type of middle grade read. This is not a detailed historical fiction or romance aimed at adults; this is a fantasy/mystery actioner. It has a fine hang-on-and-turn-the-pages feel. I expect that will appeal to most readers.
Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
Sarah finds an emerald ring in grandma's attic and it turns out to have once been owned by Cleopatra herself. The ring has magical properties and launches Sarah and her friends into a number of interconnected adventures and escapades.
This is a very ambitious book and develops as it progresses into much more than the first few chapters might suggest. At the outset it looks like we'll get an amiable magic ring/chase fantasy with a fairly predictable plot arc. There are lots of books out there, (quite good ones), that use some magical MacGuffin to launch historical adventures. (For example, Jon Scieszka's "Time Warp Trio" series, or for younger kids the "Magic Treehouse" books.) That's what I expected here. I underestimated the author's ambition.
This book operates on several levels at once. We have Sarah's coming to grips with the ring's magical properties and the deeply unnerving effect it has on her. There is Sarah's research into the history of the ring. There is Sarah's research into Cleopatra and ancient Egypt. There is the running development of Sarah's and her BFF Heidi's changing, and strengthening, relationship in the face of these mysteries. There is middle grade school drama, (thankfully, just a bit of that). We explore Sarah's interactions with her parents, who know that something is going on and worry.
On top of that we have a third kid with a mysterious past and hidden agenda who joins the girls. Then, we have a mysterious eeevil character trying to steal the ring. Then, on top of all that, we have a strong dose of mystical connection between Sarah and Cleopatra's spirit, and a mystical cat spirit guide, and the involvement of other Egyptian god figures. Whew!
Some of this is setup for the remaining books in the series. (Each book will revolve around a different jewel; all of them from Cleopatra's necklace.) Some is probably due, I suspect, just to the fact that everywhere you turn there's another plot path worth exploring.
As you might imagine some of this can be clunky or unwieldy. Some parts feel grafted on as opposed to natural complements to the story. And, some of the angles feel underdeveloped. None of that detracts much from one's enjoyment of the book, and I consider it just the price you pay when an author is swinging for the fences.
The author has opted for a spare, clear no nonsense narrative style, light on description and scene setting and heavy on action and forward momentum. This is not fine "literary" writing; it is for the most part serviceable. That feels like a good choice for this series and for this type of middle grade read. This is not a detailed historical fiction or romance aimed at adults; this is a fantasy/mystery actioner. It has a fine hang-on-and-turn-the-pages feel. I expect that will appeal to most readers.
Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
November 1, 2013
While I had just a bit of trouble getting into the flow of The Emerald Ring in the first few pages, it wasn't long before I did get into it. And when that happened I could not put The Emerald Ring down. While geared toward middle graders, I can see all ages and both genders getting into this book.
Sara is a great character, she seems typical of a tween embarking upon the middle school years. She's into boys, has a best friend and just wants to get by without embarrassing herself during her sixth grade year. She's wise, into books and very put together it seems, but as is typical with middle school, she is still trying to figure herself out. When she tries out her Grandmother's ring and it becomes stuck on her finger, strange things start happening. Then there are the dreams. She has research and her friends Heidi and her new friend Kainu to help her out. Heidi and Kainu made great characters too. Kainu seemed to be more than he seemed and Heidi was a great best friend, she stuck with Sara even when she wasn't sure what was going on. And I liked Sara's parents. They weren't absentee parents, they were watchful and careful with Sara, but they did give her some freedom to grow and become more. So to me they were typical parents and it's refreshing to have parents in MG/YA fiction.
The story was interesting. What is it about the ring? What about Sara's strange dreams? There is so much more to the story and it is a wonderful read. After getting into the book, (which really only took 10-20 pages, which I find is typical for me reading MG fiction) it was very fast-paced and exciting. I can see MG-fiction readers really enjoying this one. I plan to let my older son see if it is his speed and reading it with my younger son. The plot has a great mystery with paranormal elements and it's different from other books I read so that made it more interesting as well. It concludes with a finish for this chapter of the story, but leaves a lot open for the continued series which I am looking forward to.
Ms. White does an amazing job with characters and plotting. The Emerald Ring is a great start to what looks like will be a wonderful series for MG and older (and great to read with younger children who are more advanced readers). It has mystery, the paranormal, friendship and middle school. What more could you ask for? Oh well you could be like me after you finish and be anxiously awaiting The Ruby Pendant!
Sara is a great character, she seems typical of a tween embarking upon the middle school years. She's into boys, has a best friend and just wants to get by without embarrassing herself during her sixth grade year. She's wise, into books and very put together it seems, but as is typical with middle school, she is still trying to figure herself out. When she tries out her Grandmother's ring and it becomes stuck on her finger, strange things start happening. Then there are the dreams. She has research and her friends Heidi and her new friend Kainu to help her out. Heidi and Kainu made great characters too. Kainu seemed to be more than he seemed and Heidi was a great best friend, she stuck with Sara even when she wasn't sure what was going on. And I liked Sara's parents. They weren't absentee parents, they were watchful and careful with Sara, but they did give her some freedom to grow and become more. So to me they were typical parents and it's refreshing to have parents in MG/YA fiction.
The story was interesting. What is it about the ring? What about Sara's strange dreams? There is so much more to the story and it is a wonderful read. After getting into the book, (which really only took 10-20 pages, which I find is typical for me reading MG fiction) it was very fast-paced and exciting. I can see MG-fiction readers really enjoying this one. I plan to let my older son see if it is his speed and reading it with my younger son. The plot has a great mystery with paranormal elements and it's different from other books I read so that made it more interesting as well. It concludes with a finish for this chapter of the story, but leaves a lot open for the continued series which I am looking forward to.
Ms. White does an amazing job with characters and plotting. The Emerald Ring is a great start to what looks like will be a wonderful series for MG and older (and great to read with younger children who are more advanced readers). It has mystery, the paranormal, friendship and middle school. What more could you ask for? Oh well you could be like me after you finish and be anxiously awaiting The Ruby Pendant!
August 9, 2016
www.2thepointbooks.blogspot.com
Not sure where to start with this review. I didn't hate this book; the 2-star rating "It's OK" is definitely on par with how I feel about it. For what it is - namely a Juvenile paranormal adventure - it fits the bill.
But I have a few complaints, and more than a few questions:
1) It's not written well - weak and amateurish. Abrupt transitions. And flashbacks were poorly written; half the time I wasn't sure what was going on! Much of the story was like "This happened. Then this happened. And then this happened." Too many unanswered questions: Who is the "sister" cat in her dreams? Why is she having dreams? How did the gems get their power? Why is their only one Roman guy trying to get the gems? Where are his buddies? Why are they just now starting their search for the gems? Why didn't they start right after they discovered the gems missing way back in Cleopatra's time?
2) Character development is non-existent. Sara is completely flat. What's going on in her head? What is she feeling when she becomes a cat? Is she happy? Excited? Freaked? The other characters fare the same. I didn't even know that Heidi was "emo" until it was told to me after the Halloween scene.
3) Unbelievable explanations of how things came about or happened. My favorite was how Kainu got to Ohio from Africa - how he stowed away on a little 2-person plane to England undetected, then earned money to get to America (passport? underage-traveler? work visa?), and enrolled in school (transcripts? parental release? power of attorney?), stayed with a family there as a fake exchange student (this doesn't jive - who would allow a kid in their home with just a letter? How did he get the name of the family he wrote to anyway?). Anyway, this doesn't fly with me.
4) Weak denouement. Weak. Weak. I hate badly written endings, and this one is badly written.
I did appreciate the fact that there was no bad stuff - it's completely safe for kids to read. No swearing, which is nice.
This book needs some serious work. Thankfully it was short, so I didn't have to waste TOO much time on it. But tweens may enjoy it.
I will NOT be reading the next in the series.
I do want to thank Netgalley.com and Cedar Fort for the chance to review this book.
Not sure where to start with this review. I didn't hate this book; the 2-star rating "It's OK" is definitely on par with how I feel about it. For what it is - namely a Juvenile paranormal adventure - it fits the bill.
But I have a few complaints, and more than a few questions:
1) It's not written well - weak and amateurish. Abrupt transitions. And flashbacks were poorly written; half the time I wasn't sure what was going on! Much of the story was like "This happened. Then this happened. And then this happened." Too many unanswered questions: Who is the "sister" cat in her dreams? Why is she having dreams? How did the gems get their power? Why is their only one Roman guy trying to get the gems? Where are his buddies? Why are they just now starting their search for the gems? Why didn't they start right after they discovered the gems missing way back in Cleopatra's time?
2) Character development is non-existent. Sara is completely flat. What's going on in her head? What is she feeling when she becomes a cat? Is she happy? Excited? Freaked? The other characters fare the same. I didn't even know that Heidi was "emo" until it was told to me after the Halloween scene.
3) Unbelievable explanations of how things came about or happened. My favorite was how Kainu got to Ohio from Africa - how he stowed away on a little 2-person plane to England undetected, then earned money to get to America (passport? underage-traveler? work visa?), and enrolled in school (transcripts? parental release? power of attorney?), stayed with a family there as a fake exchange student (this doesn't jive - who would allow a kid in their home with just a letter? How did he get the name of the family he wrote to anyway?). Anyway, this doesn't fly with me.
4) Weak denouement. Weak. Weak. I hate badly written endings, and this one is badly written.
I did appreciate the fact that there was no bad stuff - it's completely safe for kids to read. No swearing, which is nice.
This book needs some serious work. Thankfully it was short, so I didn't have to waste TOO much time on it. But tweens may enjoy it.
I will NOT be reading the next in the series.
I do want to thank Netgalley.com and Cedar Fort for the chance to review this book.
November 3, 2013
When middle schooler Sara helps her grandma clean out her attic she finds a beautiful emerald ring that her grandmother lets her keep. Sara soon realizes this is not a normal ring and seems to have a power which makes it impossible to even get off her finger.
The ring has a history and a magical power, which ends up transporting Sara (in dreams) back in time to the days of Cleopatra. She is soon in danger and having to protect the ring from an evil man who is trying to reunite all of the stones of Cleopatra's necklace.
This was a fun quick read, designed for ages 9+, I definitely think the tween age group would really enjoy this book. There was friendship, adventure, magic, and even history lessons intertwined into the story. It was nice that the hero of the story was someone who had interest in history and different unique things.
The story at times had trouble keeping my attention (why the 4 stars instead of 5), but I honestly do not think that would be the case with the intended audience and I think the age bracket it is written for would absolutely love it. There wasn't a lot of character development, but that helped speed the book along, which would fit the intended audience well.
This book is definitely set up to be the first of a series, so would be a great series to get kids started on.
It is a clean book, that does not have anything offensive or graphic for the intended demographic; which is great to find.
The ring has a history and a magical power, which ends up transporting Sara (in dreams) back in time to the days of Cleopatra. She is soon in danger and having to protect the ring from an evil man who is trying to reunite all of the stones of Cleopatra's necklace.
This was a fun quick read, designed for ages 9+, I definitely think the tween age group would really enjoy this book. There was friendship, adventure, magic, and even history lessons intertwined into the story. It was nice that the hero of the story was someone who had interest in history and different unique things.
The story at times had trouble keeping my attention (why the 4 stars instead of 5), but I honestly do not think that would be the case with the intended audience and I think the age bracket it is written for would absolutely love it. There wasn't a lot of character development, but that helped speed the book along, which would fit the intended audience well.
This book is definitely set up to be the first of a series, so would be a great series to get kids started on.
It is a clean book, that does not have anything offensive or graphic for the intended demographic; which is great to find.
May 18, 2013
I really enjoyed this book! Sara finds her grandmother's emerald ring in the attic and when she puts it on her finger, she feels an electric shock and then the ring won't come off. She starts having strange dreams and with her BFF Heidi and the new African exchange student Kainu, they set out to figure out what's going on.
There was quite a bit of action and I was nervous about the situations that Sara found herself in, which is what made it fun to read--to see how she would survive. It was interesting to see how the story unfolded and how they took on the thief who was in town to steal the ring. I laughed when Sara and Heidi dressed each other up for the "Halloween at the Mall" party and that's where things really start heating up with their thief. I liked the ending and thought White did a great job setting up the next story in the series. I know this is a book my young daughter will enjoy but it's a fun read no matter how old you are!
When a new book comes out, I always wonder if there will be more books and how soon they will be released. I was fortunate to be able to interview the author and get my questions answered and I'm looking forward to reading more in this series! If you'd like to read my interview, click here.
There was quite a bit of action and I was nervous about the situations that Sara found herself in, which is what made it fun to read--to see how she would survive. It was interesting to see how the story unfolded and how they took on the thief who was in town to steal the ring. I laughed when Sara and Heidi dressed each other up for the "Halloween at the Mall" party and that's where things really start heating up with their thief. I liked the ending and thought White did a great job setting up the next story in the series. I know this is a book my young daughter will enjoy but it's a fun read no matter how old you are!
When a new book comes out, I always wonder if there will be more books and how soon they will be released. I was fortunate to be able to interview the author and get my questions answered and I'm looking forward to reading more in this series! If you'd like to read my interview, click here.
February 6, 2016
The Emerald Ring
By Dorine White
Summary courtesy of Goodreads.com
Ordinary tween life turns upside down when Ancient Egypt intrudes on modern middle school life. Twelve year old Sara Guadalupe Bogus reads about adventures, but unexpectedly is drawn into one when a mystical emerald ring that once belonged to Cleopatra becomes stuck on her finger.
A series of burglaries spook Sara’s small Ohio hometown. Concluding that the root of all the crimes is the emerald ring, Sara realizes it’s up to her and her friends, Heidi and African exchange student Kainu, to save the town and protect Cleopatra’s legacy. Filled with magic, the ring thrusts Sara into a world filled with nightmares, allows her to shape shift into an Egyptian cat and battle assassins.
Review
Sara Bogus is twelve years old and loves adventure, at least she does when it comes to the books she likes to read. Sara finds a emerald ring in her grandmothers attic and tries it on(well wouldn't you) only now its stuck on her finger and won't come off.
Sara's ring once belonged to Cleopatra and has mystical qualities that makes her hear voices and dreams of strange and terrifying things.
This is a great book and reminded me of the Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan.
3.5 Stars
By Dorine White
Summary courtesy of Goodreads.com
Ordinary tween life turns upside down when Ancient Egypt intrudes on modern middle school life. Twelve year old Sara Guadalupe Bogus reads about adventures, but unexpectedly is drawn into one when a mystical emerald ring that once belonged to Cleopatra becomes stuck on her finger.
A series of burglaries spook Sara’s small Ohio hometown. Concluding that the root of all the crimes is the emerald ring, Sara realizes it’s up to her and her friends, Heidi and African exchange student Kainu, to save the town and protect Cleopatra’s legacy. Filled with magic, the ring thrusts Sara into a world filled with nightmares, allows her to shape shift into an Egyptian cat and battle assassins.
Review
Sara Bogus is twelve years old and loves adventure, at least she does when it comes to the books she likes to read. Sara finds a emerald ring in her grandmothers attic and tries it on(well wouldn't you) only now its stuck on her finger and won't come off.
Sara's ring once belonged to Cleopatra and has mystical qualities that makes her hear voices and dreams of strange and terrifying things.
This is a great book and reminded me of the Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan.
3.5 Stars
April 2, 2013
What a fun book! Twelve year old Sara finds a mysterious emerald ring in her grandmother's attic. Once she puts it on, all sorts of strange things happen that throw her into a mysterious and dangerous world of an ancient Roman cult and dreams of Cleopatra.
There is so much in this book that kids will love - adventure, mystery, intrigue, cats, history, cultural diversity, friendship... The story is well written and will keep kids turning the pages wanting to know what will happen next.
I love how White drew the reader into Sara's world and made us root for her as she faced danger and solved puzzles. She also has a fantastic imagination and draws on ancient Egypt, a time that is fascinating for most kids, in a unique way - often from the point of view of a cat.
Overall, this is a great first book in this series and it will be interesting to see where it goes. I think that both boys and girls will enjoy this book because the story is told at a great pace with lots of danger and adventure, along with solid friendships.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review.
There is so much in this book that kids will love - adventure, mystery, intrigue, cats, history, cultural diversity, friendship... The story is well written and will keep kids turning the pages wanting to know what will happen next.
I love how White drew the reader into Sara's world and made us root for her as she faced danger and solved puzzles. She also has a fantastic imagination and draws on ancient Egypt, a time that is fascinating for most kids, in a unique way - often from the point of view of a cat.
Overall, this is a great first book in this series and it will be interesting to see where it goes. I think that both boys and girls will enjoy this book because the story is told at a great pace with lots of danger and adventure, along with solid friendships.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review.
May 3, 2013
Ancient Egypt comes to small town Ohio when Sara Guadalupe Bogus finds an emerald ring in her grandmother’s attic. After the ring zaps her, she cannot remove it from her finger and she begins having strange dreams and nightmares. If this is not enough to cause Sarah to lose sleep, she is disturbed when a series of burglaries in her neighborhood hits her best friend’s house and she discovers that the emerald ring gives her the power to turn into an Egyptian cat.
The Emerald Ring (Cleopatra’s Legacy) is filed with magic, nightmares and assassins. The story is listed for children and tweens will enjoy the action and magic found within. The history of Rome and Egypt’s rocky relationship that ended with Cleopatra’s suicide is just one of the reasons I was pulled into the book. Fans of Cleopatra will find that this book is not about her, just her legacy as the subtitle tells. White did a wonderful job writing for this young demographic who want to read more challenging stories. Although this book will be read widely by tweens, it will not have much of a calling in the teen setting.
The Emerald Ring (Cleopatra’s Legacy) is filed with magic, nightmares and assassins. The story is listed for children and tweens will enjoy the action and magic found within. The history of Rome and Egypt’s rocky relationship that ended with Cleopatra’s suicide is just one of the reasons I was pulled into the book. Fans of Cleopatra will find that this book is not about her, just her legacy as the subtitle tells. White did a wonderful job writing for this young demographic who want to read more challenging stories. Although this book will be read widely by tweens, it will not have much of a calling in the teen setting.
November 19, 2013
This was a great new find to add to my tween fantasy books! White captures a twelve-year-old girl's voice perfectly with Sara. She is spunky, full of life, and looking for adventure. I enjoyed her frequent travel back to Ancient Egypt, and an interesting new perspective on the life of Cleopatra and her people.
Sara doesn't expect her desire to travel to distant lands to be fulfilled in her grandmother's attic. But when an old emerald ring transports her back to Cleopatra's Egypt, as a cat, she finds adventures can be a bit more dangerous than she thought. Sara's zest in chasing after the thief terrorizing her neighborhood, and her desire to help her new friend from Africa make her a likable character. I found myself holding my breath a few times with her narrow escapes and near misses. Tweens and their parents will enjoy this history and magic-filled tale of ancient cults and brave new heroes, and felines.
Sara doesn't expect her desire to travel to distant lands to be fulfilled in her grandmother's attic. But when an old emerald ring transports her back to Cleopatra's Egypt, as a cat, she finds adventures can be a bit more dangerous than she thought. Sara's zest in chasing after the thief terrorizing her neighborhood, and her desire to help her new friend from Africa make her a likable character. I found myself holding my breath a few times with her narrow escapes and near misses. Tweens and their parents will enjoy this history and magic-filled tale of ancient cults and brave new heroes, and felines.
May 31, 2013
A magic ring may not be a new idea but White puts a fresh spin on it by connecting it to Cleopatra and ancient Egypt. Sara's life changes irrevocably when she puts on the emerald ring she finds at her grandma's house. At first the thing won't come off and she is forced to deal with horrible dreams about Ancient Egypt. Slowly she begins to realize that the ring is magical. With the help of her friends, Heidi and Kainu, she slowly adjusts to the abilities the ring gives her. But a burglar is searching frantically for the ring and Sara is in more danger than she knows.
This book provides a fun read, perfect for middle grade readers who aren't ready for weightier tomes. The story reads easily and moves quickly. Sara and her friends are quite likeable and make for appealing characters. I look forward to recommending this to my students.
This book provides a fun read, perfect for middle grade readers who aren't ready for weightier tomes. The story reads easily and moves quickly. Sara and her friends are quite likeable and make for appealing characters. I look forward to recommending this to my students.
November 20, 2013
What a FUN story of a girl, a BFF, a magic ring, a cat, an ancient queen, and an adventure.
Sara is an ordinary girl...
That is until she puts on the green emerald ring she finds in her grandmother's attic.
After that all sorts of magical things start to happen to her. She can hear things and do things she has never been able to do before.
As she confides in her Best Friend Forever and the new boy at school, she soon finds all of them trying to hunt down the thief who is robbing the houses in the town trying to hunt down the ring.
Can the three of them save the town, protect a legacy, and restore honor to an ancient tribe.
I LOVE the discussion questions at the end!
Written for middle grade readers, but can be enjoyed by all.
I am anxiously waiting for the adventure to continue in Book 2: The Ruby Pendant
Sara is an ordinary girl...
That is until she puts on the green emerald ring she finds in her grandmother's attic.
After that all sorts of magical things start to happen to her. She can hear things and do things she has never been able to do before.
As she confides in her Best Friend Forever and the new boy at school, she soon finds all of them trying to hunt down the thief who is robbing the houses in the town trying to hunt down the ring.
Can the three of them save the town, protect a legacy, and restore honor to an ancient tribe.
I LOVE the discussion questions at the end!
Written for middle grade readers, but can be enjoyed by all.
I am anxiously waiting for the adventure to continue in Book 2: The Ruby Pendant
June 29, 2013
I won this book on Goodreads. It is a middle grade book about a girl who finds an Emerald ring in her grandmother's attic that used to belong to Cleopatra. The ring gives her the power to change into a cat. She and her best friend get caught up in an adventure due to a cult trying to find the ring to use it to rule the world. It's a quick read and I plan to let my 10 year old daughter read it. I think she will enjoy it due to the strength of the main character and the fantasy involved. It may be a little scary for the younger crowd but should be enjoyable for middle grades. After she or my 13 year old son read it, I will update the review. Despite it being a kid's book, I enjoyed it as complete relaxation reading.
I look forward to more books in the series.
I look forward to more books in the series.
December 6, 2013
My thoughts:
Wonderful middle grade adventure. This is a fast, entertaining read. I had no trouble getting into the story and liked the characters very much. I can see many of the students I know easily falling into this book and then impatiently awaiting the next in the series. The story is nicely paced and the characters are created in a way that readers will be able to invest quickly. I found myself comparing it to The 39 Clues series, which I enjoyed as well. I am sure that this series will be a huge hit.
Wonderful middle grade adventure. This is a fast, entertaining read. I had no trouble getting into the story and liked the characters very much. I can see many of the students I know easily falling into this book and then impatiently awaiting the next in the series. The story is nicely paced and the characters are created in a way that readers will be able to invest quickly. I found myself comparing it to The 39 Clues series, which I enjoyed as well. I am sure that this series will be a huge hit.
May 20, 2013
An intriguing story of a young girl age 12 who comes across an emerald ring in an attic. The ring is magical and it takes her back to images of Cleopatra and her mystical jewels.
An ancient Roman cult wants the emerald ring and pose a threat to the girl and her friends.
This is a middle grade book that I found myself getting caught up in the story line. The book is engaging and full of adventure and fun.
An ancient Roman cult wants the emerald ring and pose a threat to the girl and her friends.
This is a middle grade book that I found myself getting caught up in the story line. The book is engaging and full of adventure and fun.
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