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Magic Shop #1
The Monster's Ring
Monsters, aliens, ghosts, giant frogs, and a tragic angel are just some of the ingredients of this madcap adventure that is quite possibly Bruce Coville’s strangest novel yet. Bruce himself appears on this recording as Gaspar Morley, head of a strange family of monsters that draw Anthony (our narrator) and his little sister Sarah into a galaxy-spanning adventure with the very souls of Earth’s dead at stake.
Listening Length: 2 hours and 5 minutes
Listening Length: 2 hours and 5 minutes
105 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
88 people are currently reading
2668 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 254 reviews
December 9, 2020
Russell Crannaker is constantly being babied by his mom and bullied by the kids at school.
To change yourself into a hideous monsters, place the ring on the ring finger of your right hand...Use with caution, and never on the night of a full moon.
He's SO SICK of it!
He wishes - for once - that he'd be big enough and scary enough so that no one tries to boss him around.
One day, he stumbles upon a mysterious magic shop and walks away with a ring - one that promises magical powers.
He's dubious but soon realize that the ring is the real deal. It can transform him into a monster!
And it's awesome...until it isn't anymore. Sometimes, scary things should just be left alone.
This is a promising start to a new series.
I like the concept of the monster-ring - but I wish it was played out a bit more. It would have been awesome to see this story just absolutely ran with!
But as it stands, this is a pretty good Halloween-y book.
I really am enjoying this series and annot wait for it to continue.
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October 13, 2016
What bullied fifth grade kid wouldn't want a magic ring that could bring out his inner monster? The book was intended as a entertaining light read for kids. It is that, but it has more to offer as well. There is a warmth and an essential goodness about 'The Monster's Ring', and a bit of bite as well. I appreciated that the shy protagonist made an attempt to stand up for himself even before the magic of the ring took hold. Mr. Coville also offered just enough background information on the school bully to make him somewhat sympathetic. The humor in the book is very silly which should appeal to kids. They will also enjoy the merrily macabre little twist at the end.
July 2, 2009
One of my favorite books as a kid. What young boy wouldn't want a ring that turns you into a monster when you twist it?
February 18, 2023
This book was just enough fantasy and just enough reality. It did have its scary moments both for the reader and where we feared just a bit for the main character. What made it very good was that we see the "bad" character in some scenes where we feel sorry for him. So, we love the horns and the fangs and the hairy hands, but we find out the disadvantages of being a monster. And we get little glimpses into what teachers, parents, and other children have to deal with.
Some parts were funny and some scary. My grandson and I enjoyed it very much. We will look for more by this author.
Some parts were funny and some scary. My grandson and I enjoyed it very much. We will look for more by this author.
June 25, 2017
I quite enjoyed it and found it a very nice little book for Halloween!
July 1, 2018
The Monster’s Ring is the novel that kicked off Bruce Coville’s funny and thoughtful Magic Shop Series. Milquetoast fifth-grader Russell Crannaker can’t stand up to anyone: not his suffocating mother, not his long-winded and self-absorbed father, and especially not the tormenting bully, Eddie.
But when Russell stumbles onto a magic shop he’d never seen before, he buys an odd “monster’s ring” from odd Mr. Elives. Russell thinks the ring will be the answer to all of his problems, but only time will tell….
Coville’s entire series can easily be appreciated by adults as well as its target tween audience. Also, the books don’t have to be read in order for readers to thoroughly enjoy them.
But when Russell stumbles onto a magic shop he’d never seen before, he buys an odd “monster’s ring” from odd Mr. Elives. Russell thinks the ring will be the answer to all of his problems, but only time will tell….
Coville’s entire series can easily be appreciated by adults as well as its target tween audience. Also, the books don’t have to be read in order for readers to thoroughly enjoy them.
October 29, 2023
One of my very favorite childhood authors was Bruce Coville. I must’ve read everything he ever wrote, and most of his books I read over and over again.
At the time, he was writing mostly science fiction, fantasy, and horror novels for kids. Science fiction and fantasy are still my favorite genres of fiction, and while I don’t read much horror anymore (bedtime—and the accompanying panicked searches for missing stuffed animals—is the only horror show I can handle right now), I still have plenty of scary kids’ books on my shelves for when my kids or my nieces and nephews have dire need of them.
Which is perfect, because my five year old son LOVES scary stuff. And by that I mean, he loves starting scary books or shows, but he loves not finishing them even more: “I think this might be TOO scary for even me, Dad,” he’ll say, trying to let me down easy. (We tried THE WITCHES by Roald Dahl a while back, but after one or two of the most horrifying illustrations you’ve ever seen in a children’s book, we had to take a break. For years.)
I actually got to meet Mr. Coville once. It’s been at least twenty or more years, but he came to the Greenville County Library System’s main branch to give a talk, and I convinced my mom to take me and my siblings.
It wasn’t Halloween, but we still dressed up anyway, this time as the stereotypical “homeschooler family.” Our stylish costumes were accurate enough to make any professional cosplayer green with envy. (Or dysentery, if that’s still a thing.)
We arrived early, long before the busloads of likely pagans arrived from their “real” schools. I frankly don’t know how we managed to get there early, because, as a family with eight kids (told you we were homeschooled), it never seemed like something we’d ever be capable of intentionally doing.
We walked into the big conference room where the talk would take place. Chairs filled the literary arena in neat little rows, and the emptiness of the room suffused my little introverted heart with profound gladness.
Since we were earlier (and better, prolly), we went right to the front of the room and snagged some sweet mosh pit quality seats on the first row. I was a super fan, and if Mr. Coville wanted to do some crowd surfing as an escape from the constant pressure of creating new worlds for me to explore, then by Rod (deep cut reference), I was going to be ready.
I did not at all expect him to come out prior to the start of the presentation, so I was shocked when he entered the room and immediately walked over to speak with us. I had never met a real, live author before, and I was not even the least bit prepared for SPEAKING with him. He wrote BOOKS, for goodness sake! I had never even written my first dirty limerick yet, so what could I possibly expect to say to him?! I was feeling panicked.
But Mr. Coville turned out to be one of the kindest guys I’d ever spoken with. He kept me and my younger siblings entertained with a steady stream of jokes as he set up for his presentation, and he signed all of the books that we had brought along with us. He asked if we had any questions, and after some prodding from my mom (who had already heard me talking about all the questions I had for him), I finally asked him if he was going to be writing a sequel to one of his fantasy series. He said he’d actually been working on that very book on the ride over to the library. I almost lost my 13-year-old mind (I was very popular in my class at [home]school, trust me) at the thought of him writing the very book I’d been longing to read for years by that point.
We had front row seats for the show that followed, and he was great. He talked about reading and writing and about how he came up with some of his ideas and he answered questions, and for the grand finale, he gave a fully dramatized monologue from one of his books in full character as a maniac named Igor. I was in bookworm heaven (and still super popular with the ladies).
I’ve been reading higher level books to my son this year, partially as a means to expand his literary palate beyond the 500,000th rendition of I WILL CHOMP YOU, and almost entirely as a means to relive my childhood by re-reading children’s novels but without the shame of my wife finding me re-reading children’s novels by myself as a 33-year-old man. He picked out THE MONSTER’S RING as the next book we would read together, and I know it was primarily because he loved the scary monster on the cover. A perfect Halloween read.
He loved it, especially the illustrations of the main character when he turned into a series of ever more terrifying monsters. By the end, he said he was ready to read it again. (Although at one point, when I asked him if he wanted me to read him the next chapter, he paused from his drawing, looked up at me thoughtfully, and asked, “Do YOU want to read me the next chapter, Dad?” When I affirmed my deepest most heartfelt desire—and the only reason I ever agreed to have children to begin with—he nodded and said, “Okay. We can read another chapter. Because you want to.” I know when I’m merely being humored, but as a dad, I’ll take these moments of triumph wherever they come.)
Reading this book (one of my all time favorites) to my son—who is also one of my all time favorites, or at the very least, in my top ten—is not quite the same experience I had reading it for the first time as a child. The thrill of discovery, of finding a new author that I would grow to love, of diving deep into a story that fascinated and thrilled and scared me—all that was in the past.
But now, in the present with my five-year boy, I have the far greater joy of sharing a beloved book with my son so early on in what I hope will be a long and delightful journey for him into the deep and wide and wonderful world of reading.
At the time, he was writing mostly science fiction, fantasy, and horror novels for kids. Science fiction and fantasy are still my favorite genres of fiction, and while I don’t read much horror anymore (bedtime—and the accompanying panicked searches for missing stuffed animals—is the only horror show I can handle right now), I still have plenty of scary kids’ books on my shelves for when my kids or my nieces and nephews have dire need of them.
Which is perfect, because my five year old son LOVES scary stuff. And by that I mean, he loves starting scary books or shows, but he loves not finishing them even more: “I think this might be TOO scary for even me, Dad,” he’ll say, trying to let me down easy. (We tried THE WITCHES by Roald Dahl a while back, but after one or two of the most horrifying illustrations you’ve ever seen in a children’s book, we had to take a break. For years.)
I actually got to meet Mr. Coville once. It’s been at least twenty or more years, but he came to the Greenville County Library System’s main branch to give a talk, and I convinced my mom to take me and my siblings.
It wasn’t Halloween, but we still dressed up anyway, this time as the stereotypical “homeschooler family.” Our stylish costumes were accurate enough to make any professional cosplayer green with envy. (Or dysentery, if that’s still a thing.)
We arrived early, long before the busloads of likely pagans arrived from their “real” schools. I frankly don’t know how we managed to get there early, because, as a family with eight kids (told you we were homeschooled), it never seemed like something we’d ever be capable of intentionally doing.
We walked into the big conference room where the talk would take place. Chairs filled the literary arena in neat little rows, and the emptiness of the room suffused my little introverted heart with profound gladness.
Since we were earlier (and better, prolly), we went right to the front of the room and snagged some sweet mosh pit quality seats on the first row. I was a super fan, and if Mr. Coville wanted to do some crowd surfing as an escape from the constant pressure of creating new worlds for me to explore, then by Rod (deep cut reference), I was going to be ready.
I did not at all expect him to come out prior to the start of the presentation, so I was shocked when he entered the room and immediately walked over to speak with us. I had never met a real, live author before, and I was not even the least bit prepared for SPEAKING with him. He wrote BOOKS, for goodness sake! I had never even written my first dirty limerick yet, so what could I possibly expect to say to him?! I was feeling panicked.
But Mr. Coville turned out to be one of the kindest guys I’d ever spoken with. He kept me and my younger siblings entertained with a steady stream of jokes as he set up for his presentation, and he signed all of the books that we had brought along with us. He asked if we had any questions, and after some prodding from my mom (who had already heard me talking about all the questions I had for him), I finally asked him if he was going to be writing a sequel to one of his fantasy series. He said he’d actually been working on that very book on the ride over to the library. I almost lost my 13-year-old mind (I was very popular in my class at [home]school, trust me) at the thought of him writing the very book I’d been longing to read for years by that point.
We had front row seats for the show that followed, and he was great. He talked about reading and writing and about how he came up with some of his ideas and he answered questions, and for the grand finale, he gave a fully dramatized monologue from one of his books in full character as a maniac named Igor. I was in bookworm heaven (and still super popular with the ladies).
I’ve been reading higher level books to my son this year, partially as a means to expand his literary palate beyond the 500,000th rendition of I WILL CHOMP YOU, and almost entirely as a means to relive my childhood by re-reading children’s novels but without the shame of my wife finding me re-reading children’s novels by myself as a 33-year-old man. He picked out THE MONSTER’S RING as the next book we would read together, and I know it was primarily because he loved the scary monster on the cover. A perfect Halloween read.
He loved it, especially the illustrations of the main character when he turned into a series of ever more terrifying monsters. By the end, he said he was ready to read it again. (Although at one point, when I asked him if he wanted me to read him the next chapter, he paused from his drawing, looked up at me thoughtfully, and asked, “Do YOU want to read me the next chapter, Dad?” When I affirmed my deepest most heartfelt desire—and the only reason I ever agreed to have children to begin with—he nodded and said, “Okay. We can read another chapter. Because you want to.” I know when I’m merely being humored, but as a dad, I’ll take these moments of triumph wherever they come.)
Reading this book (one of my all time favorites) to my son—who is also one of my all time favorites, or at the very least, in my top ten—is not quite the same experience I had reading it for the first time as a child. The thrill of discovery, of finding a new author that I would grow to love, of diving deep into a story that fascinated and thrilled and scared me—all that was in the past.
But now, in the present with my five-year boy, I have the far greater joy of sharing a beloved book with my son so early on in what I hope will be a long and delightful journey for him into the deep and wide and wonderful world of reading.
March 14, 2018
I decided to revisit this series in audio form since I haven't read them since about second grade or so. It is an interesting story of bullying and learning to stand up for yourself and be heard, with or without magic. The idea of releasing an inner monster to deal with your problems is an enticing one! This is a simple book that moves quickly without much fleshing out of characters, but it's for kids and stays true to its purpose. Sometimes I wondered what kind of school Russell was going to, but there were some awesome depictions of teachers.
I listened to the Full Cast Audio version directed by Daniel Bostick; they did a great job.
I listened to the Full Cast Audio version directed by Daniel Bostick; they did a great job.
October 7, 2021
Per my late elementary aged kids, they give this 3.75 stars, so I'm rounding up to 4.
This was an engaging, fast paced book. Perfect to snag younger readers- intriguing without being scary. We listened to it on Audible, and the music gave a great Halloween touch without being too much. I think they'll definitely want to continue with the series.
This was an engaging, fast paced book. Perfect to snag younger readers- intriguing without being scary. We listened to it on Audible, and the music gave a great Halloween touch without being too much. I think they'll definitely want to continue with the series.
July 18, 2023
I just want to know where I can find a ring like this. Oh my gosh – the fun to be had!
(tee-hee 😈)
Always, of course, being careful to read and follow the full directions and to heed the warning included.
(tee-hee 😈)
Always, of course, being careful to read and follow the full directions and to heed the warning included.
February 13, 2017
Brilliant! I got a lot of laughs out of this story. Children will no doubt love this book and its humor!
September 28, 2017
I find it hard to dislike a children fantasy book. However, if you are just like me, give this book a go!
May 22, 2021
Another book that I wish I have read it when I was a child.
A great book for kids to read at Halloween.
A great book for kids to read at Halloween.
October 23, 2021
A perfect book for reading during the thirteen days of Halloween.
September 14, 2023
Surprisingly violent!
Read
May 12, 2021Another book preview, age appropriate easy read for early/ mid elementary age
September 18, 2019
Russell visits the Magic Shop and gets a magic ring that turns him into a monster, and uses it to help him stand up to the bully in his school. But the Monster Ring makes Russell feel wild and feral, and not just when he's wearing it! He starts howling at the moon at odd times, he terrifies his classmates during their Halloween party, and he growls at the school principal. Can Russell keep his wildness under control before he becomes a monster for good?
This story is fast-paced and has good development. Russell goes through such a transformation, not as a monster, but as a character. He starts out as this frightened, timid little boy, and discovers that power and strength are not about having big muscles and fangs. He learns how to express himself better, and his life changes because of his courageous honesty with his family and friends. I really loved the character development and the story arc!
The story is also funny, with crazy scenarios and magical shenanigans that made me laugh!
This story is fast-paced and has good development. Russell goes through such a transformation, not as a monster, but as a character. He starts out as this frightened, timid little boy, and discovers that power and strength are not about having big muscles and fangs. He learns how to express himself better, and his life changes because of his courageous honesty with his family and friends. I really loved the character development and the story arc!
The story is also funny, with crazy scenarios and magical shenanigans that made me laugh!
August 17, 2019
I did not enjoy this as much as Jeremy Hatcher. There were some things I found questionable such as rampaging throughout town with no real consequences. However, it was a fun read and I would recommend it on the library floor to a fantasy lover. I’ll be reading more of this series.
March 27, 2021
this was my fave book when I was younger it’s the definition of art. Highly recommended xxxx
April 10, 2012
A kid's story about bullies and finding your own ground.
My Take
It's about standing up for yourself against bullies. Whether it's a caring sort of bullying from your parents or the nastier kind from mean kids. But the ring provides opportunities for Russell to learn why Eddie is so mean and gives him the courage to talk to his parents, to make peace with Eddie.
It's also about reading the instructions..!
The Story
Russell Crannaker is a shy boy who is always being bullied by Eddie. And it's his innermost desire that leads him to Elives' Magic Supplies shop. The shop that both fulfills his fantasies and fuels his nightmares.
But Russell takes it too far one time and discovers, really, how wonderful his life was.
The Characters
Mr. Crannaker never, ever stops talking and Mrs. Crannaker fusses and fusses trying to make everything all right.
The Cover
The cover is bright shades of green from blues to yellows. The front is bordered in devilish carvings with statues inset on the sides. The lower half is an inset golden window featuring a horned and fanged drooling monster in a striped T-shirt wearing a watch and a baseball cap.
The title says it all for it's The Monster's Ring that changes everything.
My Take
It's about standing up for yourself against bullies. Whether it's a caring sort of bullying from your parents or the nastier kind from mean kids. But the ring provides opportunities for Russell to learn why Eddie is so mean and gives him the courage to talk to his parents, to make peace with Eddie.
It's also about reading the instructions..!
The Story
Russell Crannaker is a shy boy who is always being bullied by Eddie. And it's his innermost desire that leads him to Elives' Magic Supplies shop. The shop that both fulfills his fantasies and fuels his nightmares.
But Russell takes it too far one time and discovers, really, how wonderful his life was.
The Characters
Mr. Crannaker never, ever stops talking and Mrs. Crannaker fusses and fusses trying to make everything all right.
The Cover
The cover is bright shades of green from blues to yellows. The front is bordered in devilish carvings with statues inset on the sides. The lower half is an inset golden window featuring a horned and fanged drooling monster in a striped T-shirt wearing a watch and a baseball cap.
The title says it all for it's The Monster's Ring that changes everything.
August 9, 2012
I remember reading Bruce Coville in elementary school and enjoying him, and the plot of this novel sounded fun and intriguing, so I sought it out and gave it a read. The central hook of the novel is a good one, and there are very brief, entertaining flashes of macabre humor and visual inventiveness, but the characters and story are very paint-by-numbers, and ultimately, nothing very interesting or unexpected happens. However, the ending offers an admirably sensible and slightly dark twist, and the book very wisely avoids being one-sided. It makes the idea of being a monster seem attractive, and I could see a kid picking up this book and relating to that conceit immediately. Coville seems to be giving all of the young geeks and outcasts of the world something to cling to, and I imagine that if I had discovered this book when I was young, I would have cherished it wholeheartedly. As it is, I'm sorry to say that I wasn't very impressed.
March 15, 2010
Lumayanlah buat buku bacaan ringan remaja.
Mustinya bisa memberi gambaran
bahwa kalau jadi anak/orang tuh jangan maruk
dikasih hati minta jantung
dikasih cincin minta monster
dikasih bulan purnama... eh, jadi monster betulan!
Rasain, emang enak!
Tapi kesannya buku ini ga selesai yah,
kurang memberi penyesalan mendalam.
Yaaah, seperti diskusi di TM kemarin tentang buku fantasi
dengan pertanyaan Erwin mengenai nilai moral,
jangan2 moral cerita buku ini memang bukanlah
"kebaikan menang melawan kejahatan!"
atau "cinta mengalahkan segalanya!"
...
melainkan, "aku sekarang monster, maka aku ada!"
Mustinya bisa memberi gambaran
bahwa kalau jadi anak/orang tuh jangan maruk
dikasih hati minta jantung
dikasih cincin minta monster
dikasih bulan purnama... eh, jadi monster betulan!
Rasain, emang enak!
Tapi kesannya buku ini ga selesai yah,
kurang memberi penyesalan mendalam.
Yaaah, seperti diskusi di TM kemarin tentang buku fantasi
dengan pertanyaan Erwin mengenai nilai moral,
jangan2 moral cerita buku ini memang bukanlah
"kebaikan menang melawan kejahatan!"
atau "cinta mengalahkan segalanya!"
...
melainkan, "aku sekarang monster, maka aku ada!"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2013
Russell Crannaker is sick of being bullied. He purchases a magic ring to transform himself into a monster, but will he be able to live with the side effects?
Dealing with bullies is never easy and Russell’s situation is no different. His inner voice as he deals with his bully, Eddie, resonates as true. The changes he experiences even when not wearing the ring show kids how sometimes just a little courage can make a huge positive difference.
I also highly recommend listening to this book. Bruce Coville narrates and the Full Cast Family provide different actors for each character. Well paced, excellent sound. With a 2 hour running time it could be an excellent classroom listen.
Dealing with bullies is never easy and Russell’s situation is no different. His inner voice as he deals with his bully, Eddie, resonates as true. The changes he experiences even when not wearing the ring show kids how sometimes just a little courage can make a huge positive difference.
I also highly recommend listening to this book. Bruce Coville narrates and the Full Cast Family provide different actors for each character. Well paced, excellent sound. With a 2 hour running time it could be an excellent classroom listen.
July 9, 2017
This is a fun little book. I didn't enjoy it as much as Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher. Still it was a nice little read for Halloween night. This boy likes monsters and wants to be a monster, something we do not share in common. He finds a ring to help him become that with specific instructions. He doesn't follow them and find out by reading more. There is also a theme about bullying. Russell was bullied. The story doesn't dwell on it and his monster side empowers him.
A decent and fun read.
A decent and fun read.
December 21, 2014
great children's / teen book. I read it so I could discuss it with my home-schoolers. we went through a few in the series. wouldn't mind reading them again, actually.
The story is about a boy who buys a ring which turns him into a monster. He tries to hide his changes, but, inevitably, hes unsuccessful. his adventures are quite nostalgic, and is a great follow-on/lead off to the other books in the series.
The story is about a boy who buys a ring which turns him into a monster. He tries to hide his changes, but, inevitably, hes unsuccessful. his adventures are quite nostalgic, and is a great follow-on/lead off to the other books in the series.
September 12, 2016
Why did his mother treat him like such a baby?
How could he grow upif he never got the chance?
--p.58
Saya memang rada lambat~~~ kalo baca buku berbahasa Inggris.
Buku ini menurut saya mirip Goosebumps.
Tapi lebih "aman".
Dan seperti biasa, ada sebab akibat. Perasaan anak yang menarik dari buku ini.
Mengingatkan agar saya kelak mau mendengarkan Kira, dan bukan melulu menentukan yang terbaik baginya menurut saya semata.
How could he grow upif he never got the chance?
--p.58
Saya memang rada lambat~~~ kalo baca buku berbahasa Inggris.
Buku ini menurut saya mirip Goosebumps.
Tapi lebih "aman".
Dan seperti biasa, ada sebab akibat. Perasaan anak yang menarik dari buku ini.
Mengingatkan agar saya kelak mau mendengarkan Kira, dan bukan melulu menentukan yang terbaik baginya menurut saya semata.
May 1, 2013
This book is about a boy going to a creepy pawn shop and buying a nice ring for the price of five dollars,so he buys it goes home tries it but it,s stuck on his finger and now he,s becoming a monster every hour that pass by now he must witness the mysterious,of the monster ring,he must survive the day of school full of bullies,teachers and how to control the beast within.
October 25, 2019
3.5
If you're interested in this series (& you should be because it's so much fun,) I HIGHLY recommend listening to the full cast audio books. This was a delightful little two hour gem that totally brightened my morning. I laughed out loud so many times at both the acting performances and the clever writing.
If you're interested in this series (& you should be because it's so much fun,) I HIGHLY recommend listening to the full cast audio books. This was a delightful little two hour gem that totally brightened my morning. I laughed out loud so many times at both the acting performances and the clever writing.
Read
March 13, 2009that you don't have to do ravage on a bully
September 15, 2014
This book is a mind twisting thriller that atarts with a boy how gets a magic ring that helps him through some troubles I thinks some of my freinds mite like it but I loved it
Displaying 1 - 30 of 254 reviews