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Mary Baker and The Eye of the Tiger
Mary Baker isn’t happy. She’s bullied by a mother who hates her and her mother’s boyfriend, who is a redneck plumber with a big gut. It’s only the mysterious surprises that keep happening to her that make her life fun. Or interesting. Like the anonymous gifts that come in the mail or the flocks of black birds that follow her. Then one day, a death and a mysterious, magical stone with symbols on it, called The Eye of the Tiger, bring her great wealth and a new life attending a school of white magic.
This sometimes amusing adventure includes misspells which hit the wrong people with funny results, and real spells and rituals that have powerful consequences.
All is going well until a hooded figure steals the stone. Now, her riches in jeopardy, Mary and her friends soon find themselves in real danger as they come up against a young woman who can’t decide if she’s evil or good and a truly evil wizard, who just wants the stone for the wealth it will bring.
This sometimes amusing adventure includes misspells which hit the wrong people with funny results, and real spells and rituals that have powerful consequences.
All is going well until a hooded figure steals the stone. Now, her riches in jeopardy, Mary and her friends soon find themselves in real danger as they come up against a young woman who can’t decide if she’s evil or good and a truly evil wizard, who just wants the stone for the wealth it will bring.
230 pages, Paperback
First published February 27, 2013
1 person is currently reading
405 people want to read
About the author
D.M. Cherubim
1 book19 followersAUTHOR BIO: D.M. Cherubim recently finished the beta reads for his middle grade fantasy, tentatively titled "Mary Baker and The Eye of the Tiger." The book now is being rewritten, and is expected to be published sometime in 2015.
During the beta reads, the book received good reviews from readers, Kirkus and a Silver Medal from Readers' Favorite. It's a "rare and unusual" YA book about God and magic.
Cherubim plans to look for an agent and publisher for the middle grade fantasy, when the rewrite is finished. He also is working on several other projects, including a thriller/murder mystery called Black on Water.
During the beta reads, the book received good reviews from readers, Kirkus and a Silver Medal from Readers' Favorite. It's a "rare and unusual" YA book about God and magic.
Cherubim plans to look for an agent and publisher for the middle grade fantasy, when the rewrite is finished. He also is working on several other projects, including a thriller/murder mystery called Black on Water.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 22, 2013
I originally bought this book for my little sister, who is in the 7th grade. She read through the book faster than any other, and so I decided to give it a read this past weekend. Now I see what all the fuss was about! This is a great story for any age. It has elements of fantasy, magic, and action, but it's really hard to categorize this book, because it touches on many different genres.
The characters are instantly likeable, especially little Mary Baker. But the dialogue between her and friends is always memorable. You get the feeling that the author, D.M. Cherubim, really put a lot of work into each of these characters, and that development pays off by how enjoyable they are to read. My little sister compared it to the Harry Potter series, and that's a fair comparison.
I don't want to give too much away, because most of the fun of the book is discovering the hidden mysteries and various secrets along with Mary, but I will say that it's a great read, and my little sister is already asking if there will be a second book! If it makes her want to read more, that's the sign of a job well done.
The characters are instantly likeable, especially little Mary Baker. But the dialogue between her and friends is always memorable. You get the feeling that the author, D.M. Cherubim, really put a lot of work into each of these characters, and that development pays off by how enjoyable they are to read. My little sister compared it to the Harry Potter series, and that's a fair comparison.
I don't want to give too much away, because most of the fun of the book is discovering the hidden mysteries and various secrets along with Mary, but I will say that it's a great read, and my little sister is already asking if there will be a second book! If it makes her want to read more, that's the sign of a job well done.
March 17, 2013
I throughly enjoyed reading Mary Baker and the Eye of the Tiger. There's something about this book that is just magical. Granted, it is about magic, but it is so much more than that.
If you are a Harry Potter fan, you will love this book. There were hateful parents, mysterious relatives, a large inheritance, a magical school, and a handful of good friends to protect the eye of the tiger stone. The best part was that this story was from the perspective of a young girl, instead of a boy, so you're getting a completely different experience.
Busby was my favorite character! What an adorable, amazingly smart little bird. And his role in the book was incredibly important!
This book grabs you the instant you begin reading it, and takes you for a fun ride! Read it. You won't regret it
If you are a Harry Potter fan, you will love this book. There were hateful parents, mysterious relatives, a large inheritance, a magical school, and a handful of good friends to protect the eye of the tiger stone. The best part was that this story was from the perspective of a young girl, instead of a boy, so you're getting a completely different experience.
Busby was my favorite character! What an adorable, amazingly smart little bird. And his role in the book was incredibly important!
This book grabs you the instant you begin reading it, and takes you for a fun ride! Read it. You won't regret it
June 4, 2013
This was a great first novel from D M Cherubin, looking forward to the next
June 8, 2013
This is a review someone posted on Amazon after reading the book: Mary Baker and The Eye of the Tiger:
"Mary Baker and The Eye of the Tiger" is truly something in the way of magic itself--spellbinding, enchanting, bewitching, and all-around spectacular to the last drop. The vernacular is descriptive but also motivating (a rare marriage on any literary front). Those who bask in the power of the written word will thrill in Cherubim's expressive talent, and those who savor the acuity and satisfaction of prose that creates motion and action will be gratified with Cherubim's refreshing clarity, consciousness of pace, and marvelously grand sense of adventure and unexpected twists, turns, and mysteries.
Novels for young adults seldom, if ever, achieve a compelling balance of elements that speaks to the reader--this one DOES, and then some. It's high intellect hand-in-hand with coherency. It's magical wonder alongside sober truths. It's grit and courage leavened with hope and imagination. It's conceptual depth that makes minds of all ages (emphasis on all ages! truly!) glitter with the long-lost prosperity of what it's like to get beautifully lost in a book. In times where we rip and tear our way through our kindle pages against the clock, this novel brings me back to the ambient love of reading I had years ago when a sunny window and a terrific book were the greatest fruits this life had to offer.
Most importantly: It's a story about life *AND* it's a story about living--something else very, very rare in our written world.
Another thing I found extremely refreshing was Cherubim's painstaking care for authenticity--she never patronizes her own story, which is a habit some writers of all-consuming fantasy or intense adventure often have because of the dramatic value that elevates these imaginative genres from certain parts of our reality. Cherubim's characters and their adventures, their growth, their ambitions, their hopes, fears, dreams, and wills are remarkable in authenticity because of Cherubim's sincerity in the art of fantasy and exploration.
Many adults writing similar themes typically reveal in their phrasing a tone that condescends their own magic-founded plots and actions, which in turn undermines reader and the story itself. Cherubim's novel is a HIGHLY rejuvenating remedy to this pattern because, as a writer and a storyteller, it's easy to see that she respects the dignity of the fantastic, the extraordinary, the sublime, the mysterious.
She also gives a mature touch to a story about young people--she has confidence in their abilities, in their intelligence, their perseverance, and their resourcefulness, even though they are children. Mary Baker's life of abuse, for instance, is chillingly honest but artfully never leaves the reader feeling hopeless as Mary endures and overcomes adversity with the strength and sharp wits we tend to only associate with adult protagonists. This is so, so important, as young people capable of heroism speak to young readers with a message of "Just because you are young doesn't mean you can't achieve greatness." This is the stuff that makes us love to read--when books transport us, when books teach us, when books tell us that our dreams and hopes aren't silly or ridiculous. When strong, purposeful writing gives confidence to a reader's ability both as a dreamer and as a critical thinker, you get one heck of a pearl.
Because of this brilliant realism, "Mary Baker" is a radiant tale with universal eye-level appeal. We so often underestimate children, and even more often do we underestimate the sheer magnitude and resonance of or about a story for children, teens, and young adults. But once every now and again there comes along a writer who reminds us what treasures and potential are in this literature; there's a reason we call Roald Dahl, C. S. Lewis, Lewis Carroll, and J. K. Rowling some of the single greatest literary influences of all time. Cherubim would suit their "Algonquin Round Table" of imagination and magic precisely.
In short, I can't remember the last time I felt so inspired by a book. "Mary Baker" hits the spot you never knew you were hungry for. Cherubim has absolutely raised the bar with this one, and I eagerly await her next publication.
By Letty Lynn, verified purchase by Amazon.com
The author, who began writing this book after a near-death experience, was an award-winning journalist.
U.S. Kindle Book: http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Baker-The-...
U.S. Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Baker-The-...
U.K. link: UK version: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mary-Baker-Ey...
Canadian version: http://www.amazon.ca/Mary-Baker-Eye-T...
Author: https://www.amazon.com/author/dmcherubim
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DMCherubim
"Mary Baker and The Eye of the Tiger" is truly something in the way of magic itself--spellbinding, enchanting, bewitching, and all-around spectacular to the last drop. The vernacular is descriptive but also motivating (a rare marriage on any literary front). Those who bask in the power of the written word will thrill in Cherubim's expressive talent, and those who savor the acuity and satisfaction of prose that creates motion and action will be gratified with Cherubim's refreshing clarity, consciousness of pace, and marvelously grand sense of adventure and unexpected twists, turns, and mysteries.
Novels for young adults seldom, if ever, achieve a compelling balance of elements that speaks to the reader--this one DOES, and then some. It's high intellect hand-in-hand with coherency. It's magical wonder alongside sober truths. It's grit and courage leavened with hope and imagination. It's conceptual depth that makes minds of all ages (emphasis on all ages! truly!) glitter with the long-lost prosperity of what it's like to get beautifully lost in a book. In times where we rip and tear our way through our kindle pages against the clock, this novel brings me back to the ambient love of reading I had years ago when a sunny window and a terrific book were the greatest fruits this life had to offer.
Most importantly: It's a story about life *AND* it's a story about living--something else very, very rare in our written world.
Another thing I found extremely refreshing was Cherubim's painstaking care for authenticity--she never patronizes her own story, which is a habit some writers of all-consuming fantasy or intense adventure often have because of the dramatic value that elevates these imaginative genres from certain parts of our reality. Cherubim's characters and their adventures, their growth, their ambitions, their hopes, fears, dreams, and wills are remarkable in authenticity because of Cherubim's sincerity in the art of fantasy and exploration.
Many adults writing similar themes typically reveal in their phrasing a tone that condescends their own magic-founded plots and actions, which in turn undermines reader and the story itself. Cherubim's novel is a HIGHLY rejuvenating remedy to this pattern because, as a writer and a storyteller, it's easy to see that she respects the dignity of the fantastic, the extraordinary, the sublime, the mysterious.
She also gives a mature touch to a story about young people--she has confidence in their abilities, in their intelligence, their perseverance, and their resourcefulness, even though they are children. Mary Baker's life of abuse, for instance, is chillingly honest but artfully never leaves the reader feeling hopeless as Mary endures and overcomes adversity with the strength and sharp wits we tend to only associate with adult protagonists. This is so, so important, as young people capable of heroism speak to young readers with a message of "Just because you are young doesn't mean you can't achieve greatness." This is the stuff that makes us love to read--when books transport us, when books teach us, when books tell us that our dreams and hopes aren't silly or ridiculous. When strong, purposeful writing gives confidence to a reader's ability both as a dreamer and as a critical thinker, you get one heck of a pearl.
Because of this brilliant realism, "Mary Baker" is a radiant tale with universal eye-level appeal. We so often underestimate children, and even more often do we underestimate the sheer magnitude and resonance of or about a story for children, teens, and young adults. But once every now and again there comes along a writer who reminds us what treasures and potential are in this literature; there's a reason we call Roald Dahl, C. S. Lewis, Lewis Carroll, and J. K. Rowling some of the single greatest literary influences of all time. Cherubim would suit their "Algonquin Round Table" of imagination and magic precisely.
In short, I can't remember the last time I felt so inspired by a book. "Mary Baker" hits the spot you never knew you were hungry for. Cherubim has absolutely raised the bar with this one, and I eagerly await her next publication.
By Letty Lynn, verified purchase by Amazon.com
The author, who began writing this book after a near-death experience, was an award-winning journalist.
U.S. Kindle Book: http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Baker-The-...
U.S. Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Baker-The-...
U.K. link: UK version: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mary-Baker-Ey...
Canadian version: http://www.amazon.ca/Mary-Baker-Eye-T...
Author: https://www.amazon.com/author/dmcherubim
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DMCherubim
June 12, 2013
Overall, this book was good (3/5). At first, the story was almost too childishly cliche for my taste, but then I realized it was intended as a children's fantasy novel.
The beginning was a little slow and I found myself being annoyed by Mary's constant crying. Her situation is sad, but having the main character cry every few paragraphs was overbearing. However, the story redeems itself by picking up in both speed and action towards the middle/latter half of the novel, where it sucks you into the plot. With this said, there were a few things that seemed a bit off to me. For example, the antagonists' were supposedly well established sorcerers, so how is it that a few first year students are able to hold their ground with him (Zad and Selina)? Also, I will admit that I was surprised by the ending, but not in a good way. I feel as if the author was in a rush to finish the novel and picked the easy way out.
Despite the few discrepancies I listed above, I found it refreshing to see how Cherubim dealt with the idea of magic (using spirits as a medium for God's powers) and would recommend this story to anyone seeking a light read in children's fantasy.
The beginning was a little slow and I found myself being annoyed by Mary's constant crying. Her situation is sad, but having the main character cry every few paragraphs was overbearing. However, the story redeems itself by picking up in both speed and action towards the middle/latter half of the novel, where it sucks you into the plot. With this said, there were a few things that seemed a bit off to me. For example, the antagonists' were supposedly well established sorcerers, so how is it that a few first year students are able to hold their ground with him (Zad and Selina)? Also, I will admit that I was surprised by the ending, but not in a good way. I feel as if the author was in a rush to finish the novel and picked the easy way out.
Despite the few discrepancies I listed above, I found it refreshing to see how Cherubim dealt with the idea of magic (using spirits as a medium for God's powers) and would recommend this story to anyone seeking a light read in children's fantasy.
June 25, 2013
All you Harry Potter fans searching for a magical experience need not look further than D.M. Cherubim’s novel, Mary Baker and the Eye of the Tiger. Mary Baker is a fifth grade girl abused by her mother, Anna, and Anna’s boyfriend George. The little girl’s only place of refuge is a closet and a good book. The family member that could save Mary from her mother’s negligence is an aged grandfather who lives far away on an apple orchard.
Selenia Brown, a powerful sorceress who lives across town, is very aware of Mary Baker’s unrealized magic prowess. And when Grandpa Hal comes for a rare visit his daughter rudely ejects him.
In a breezy writing style, Cherubim brings readers into Mary Baker’s universe where a bright cockatoo named Busby steals expensive jewelry, and there’s a magical stone, the Tiger’s Eye, that can make its owner wealthy beyond imagination.
Though there are a few editorial glitches throughout the novel, Mary Baker and the Eye of the Tiger is a book you’ll hate to put down.
Selenia Brown, a powerful sorceress who lives across town, is very aware of Mary Baker’s unrealized magic prowess. And when Grandpa Hal comes for a rare visit his daughter rudely ejects him.
In a breezy writing style, Cherubim brings readers into Mary Baker’s universe where a bright cockatoo named Busby steals expensive jewelry, and there’s a magical stone, the Tiger’s Eye, that can make its owner wealthy beyond imagination.
Though there are a few editorial glitches throughout the novel, Mary Baker and the Eye of the Tiger is a book you’ll hate to put down.
November 16, 2017
I won this book on a Goodreads giveaway a while back.
I really did appreciate the dedicatory and words that the author wrote in it. I apologize to the author for taking me too long to come around to read, it was nothing personal. I have been feeling guilty for not Reading when I got it but I’m looking forward to reading it now.
I enjoyed Reading this book. I understand why some people compare it to Harry Potter, it has some similarities but it’s different story altogether.
It’s well written and the characters are likable but they could use some touches ups.
It can be childish. It was hard for me to connect with the characters and their world but it’s an interesting story for young people who enjoy magical tales.
I really did appreciate the dedicatory and words that the author wrote in it. I apologize to the author for taking me too long to come around to read, it was nothing personal. I have been feeling guilty for not Reading when I got it but I’m looking forward to reading it now.
I enjoyed Reading this book. I understand why some people compare it to Harry Potter, it has some similarities but it’s different story altogether.
It’s well written and the characters are likable but they could use some touches ups.
It can be childish. It was hard for me to connect with the characters and their world but it’s an interesting story for young people who enjoy magical tales.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews