The Red Abalone Shell

The Last Crystal Trilogy #2

by Frances Schoonmaker

The Red Abalone Shell is the perfect story for any middle grade reader who loves fantasy, mystery, historical fiction, and adventure all in one book. This second book in The Last Crystal Trilogy is the perfect companion to the first book, The Black Alabaster Box, or as a stand-alone novel. The book is set during early 20th century American life. Historical accuracy is obviously paramount to Schoonmaker and lessons on inclusivity and bullying are seamlessly woven in to create a story with rich detail and life lessons. Children won’t even realize how much history they are learning while reading this epic tale.

294 pages, Hardcover

Published September 12, 2018

About the author

Frances Schoonmaker is the award-winning author of The Last Crystal Trilogy for middle-grade and young adult readers in addition to her professional books on education.

She sees her writing for young people as an extension of a career that has served them. After teaching school for a dozen years, she became a professor at Teachers College, Columbia University where she taught in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching and was Director/Co-Director of the graduate-level teacher preparation program in childhood education.

The Last Crystal Trilogy is the recipient of multiple awards. The Black Alabaster Box won the Firebird Award for Historical Fiction. The Last Crystal has won the 2019 Agatha Award for Best Middle Grade/Young Adult Mystery, The Coffee Pot Book Club Gold Medal for Historical Fiction, the Outstanding Creator Award, the Midcrest Media Award and the London Book Festival Award.

Reviews

[Liesl · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second in Schoonamker's Last Crystal trilogy does not disappoint. Following the story of the last crystal we meet James on the steps of a small town church with no memory of who he is or where he's been. Again, Schoonmaker adroitly weaves adventure, magic, and good story-telling in a way that keeps the reader actively engaged without superpowers, godlike strength, or gratuitous violence. She doesn't shy away from the tough stuff of life as this story is set against the backdrop of the start of World War I. Just how do you stay a pacifist when your neighbors are set to fight? And how do you stay family when your parents are from Germany and suddenly your family is the "enemy" instead of the friend of all?

[Lauren Schooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Schoonmaker weaves her ongoing plot of immortal forces with the human struggles of history, but even more powerfully than before. James and his new family’s experiences reveal an often-veiled facet of World War I’s history and that of war in general, spurred on by the magical conflicts at play. The expansions in the stories of each character and their interconnections, even a generation after the events of The Black Alabaster Box, make this a story of humanity as much as it is one of fantasy.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting second book in the trilogy. I love the fact that she takes on the story of the anti German sentiment around WWI. It was well done and well resolved. She writes for young readers, but assumes that they are intelligent and want a good story with strong characters. Well done!

[Jeanne Riley Watson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is not what I was expecting. It is mostly a lecture against war with some story surrounding it. The story was all over the place. I never got into the story. The best part was the character James.

[Judith Tanner]

Great read. Historical setting is interesting and skillfully interwoven into the story. Characters that are realistic and likable - the reader cares what happens to them. I would highly recommend this book.

[Angela Horjus · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to imagine the 2nd book in this trilogy to blow me away more than the first, but Schoonmaker has done it. I read this until 3:30am one summer night. A true delight.

[Linda Granata-Tuminello]

Looking forward to it have not had time to read but will let you know

[Ginny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this series of books is for middle school children I'm enjoying it and looking forward to the third in the series.