Rating: 
Summary: The Great Pearl ---
Review: "The Black Pearl," written by Scott O'Dell is somewhat of a very dull book, that is not able to catch the readers attention. Scott O' Dell has failed to create the same kind of enthusiasm as he did for "Island of the Blue Dolphins." It also borrows very obviously from Steinbdck's-"The Pearl,"--even the scene with the crooked pearl dealers is very similar. Overall its not much of a great book...
Rating:
Summary: The Great Pearl ---
Review: "The Black Pearl," written by Scott O'Dell is somewhat of a very dull book, that is not able to catch the readers attention. Scott O' Dell has failed to create the same kind of enthusiasm as he did for "Island of the Blue Dolphins." It also borrows very obviously from Steinbdck's-"The Pearl,"--even the scene with the crooked pearl dealers is very similar. Overall its not much of a great book...
Rating: 
Summary: GIVE THE DEVIL HIS DUE
Review: A Mexican youth turns 16 and yearns to become a pearl fishermen like the men in his family, but the most his father will do is make him a partner in the family pearl business. But then there arrives a sneering braggart who claims to be from Seville, Spain, boasting of his strength and skill as a diver. Young Ramon is torn between his 20th century skepticism and the pervading maritime myths of the local Indians regarding the mantas and squids who guard a secret oyster bed. His life is forever changed when his dream of finding the Pearl of Heaven is realized--only there are undeamed of consequences for the finder of The Black Pearl. Superstition battles his Catholicism as Ramon struggles to decide if natural disaster is just that or the result of jealous gods dealing out preternatural punishment. This tale moves along swiftly and presents the reader with "the aura of a legend, the intensity of a vison." Who will ultimately possess this prized, sought-after pearl; will the final price be worth the effort of ownership? A tale of physical and spiritual survival which will captivate most readers.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent book offering cultural insight + adventure.
Review: A short, easy to read book that gives readers of all ages a magnificent understanding of both pearl divers and rural Mexico before electricity and automobiles. As a remedial reading teacher working with 8th grade students, I have found that the 13-15 year-olds who read it with me absolutely love it with very few who don't buy into it. The negative reviews from children posted on this page reflect more on how the book was presented than on the book itself. A "must read".
Rating:
Summary: An excellent read!
Review: As an English teacher, I have read several of O'Dell's novels, and The Black Pearl is, by far, one of his best. The first person narrative is very strong, and the charcter Ramon is very believable. This book is an entertaining, quick read that also gives some very important insights about life in another culture. Highly recomended.
Rating:
Summary: The Black Pearl
Review: At 16, Ramon was finally allowed to go with his father and dive for pearls. The only thing is that he has to stay aboard the ship, for pearl diving is much too dangerous. Shortly after he properly learns how to dive, Ramon finds the great Pearl of Heaven in the Manta Diablo's cave. The same Manta Diablo that he had heard frightening stories of as a small child. But Ramon's joyous occasion is cut short when bad things begin to happen... I enjoyed this book very much. It keeps the reader in suspense for most of the story, so the only way for you to find out what happens next is for you to read the book. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful book on the coming of age and dangers of greed
Review: I am a university student from CA, and read this book as part of a Children's Literature course. As a future teacher, I can see the value that this book holds and its influence over the reader. As you can see from the negative comments made by the young readers, O'dell did a fantastic job of making the main character believable and real. So real that they hated the book because of the foolish actions of Ramon! Not only does the author teach the valuable lesson of the dangers of greed, but also the value in listening to the advice of elders and learning to work for yourself (as opposed to living for pleasing a parent, which is part of Ramon's downfall). The setting and environment exposes young readers to an entirely different way of life, which is good for cultural enrichment. By reading some of the negative and ignorant comments, it seems like some of our young readers could use some exposure to the differences that there are in our world's societies and belief systems. This book is a definite recommendation to read, but it is important to point out to children who don't exactly identify with Ramon's stupidity that it may actually be part of the "moral." Just my two cents.
Rating:
Summary: The Black Pearl
Review: I didn't like the book that much. It wasn't very interesting until the very end. The story was dull and boring in some parts which made it easy to guess what was going to happen next.
Rating: 
Summary: This book was just too fastly paced
Review: I didn't like this book that much. Ramon, I found was a big idiot for not listening to the old man when the old man told him to throw the pearl back inside the water. Another thing I didn't like was that Ramon and his family set idles to worship. The Bible is against this. Instead of worshiping God Almighty they worshiped "the madonna." It makes me want to slap Scott O' Dell across the face. Another thing, the novel was too fastly paced, I opened the book and before I knew it, the novel was already over. I, at age 13, just don't stand for short novels. I like reading stuff that's long like Stephen King's "The Stand," yes, I loved The Stand, because unlike The Black Pearl, The Stand was long, relentless, and phantasmagorical. The Black Pearl was quite the oppposite. I even have to admit, Sing Down the Moon (which I also disliked for the worshiping of various false gods, to come think about it, indians are really stupid people) was better than The Black Pearl. If you think I'm wrong and should shut my mouth up, let me tell you I don't care. In this country I have constitutional rights to freedom of speech. To come think about it, I love this country. To come think about The Black Pearl, I only have three words: don't buy it. Take it from me, a true reviewer.
Rating:
Summary: My Likes Of This Book
Review: I enjoyed this book very much. It had a lot of adventure and excitement. When I ended a chapter I did not want to stop because I couldn't wait to find out what is going to happen. I enjoyed this book.
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