The Black Pearl
From the depths of a cave in the Vermilion Sea, Ramon Salazar has wrested a black pearl so lustrous and captivating that his father, an expert pearl dealer, is certain Ramon has found the legendary Pearl of Heaven. Such a treasure is sure to bring great joy to the villagers of their tiny coastal town, and even greater renown to the Salazar name. No diver, not even the swaggering Gaspar Ruiz, has ever found a pearl like this!\ But is there a price to pay for a prize so great? When a terrible...
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From the depths of a cave in the Vermilion Sea, Ramon Salazar has wrested a black pearl so lustrous and captivating that his father, an expert pearl dealer, is certain Ramon has found the legendary Pearl of Heaven. Such a treasure is sure to bring great joy to the villagers of their tiny coastal town, and even greater renown to the Salazar name. No diver, not even the swaggering Gaspar Ruiz, has ever found a pearl like this!But is there a price to pay for a prize so great? When a terrible tragedy strikes the village, old Luzon’s warning about El Diablo returns to haunt Ramon. If El Diablo actually exists, it will take all Ramon’s courage to face the winged creature waiting for him offshore.Publishers WeeklyA 16-year-old boy does battle with an enormous devilfish that guards a rare, black pearl. PW said this 1968 Newbery Honor Book reverberates with "proud admiration of the courage of the human spirit." Ages 10-up. (Mar.)
\ Publishers Weekly\ - Publisher's Weekly\ A 16-year-old boy does battle with an enormous devilfish that guards a rare, black pearl. PW said this 1968 Newbery Honor Book reverberates with "proud admiration of the courage of the human spirit." Ages 10-up. (Mar.)\ \ \ \ \ Children's LiteratureSet in the small town of La Paz in the Baja of California, this interesting tale, told by sixteen-year-old Ramon, mixes local culture and superstition about a mysterious black pearl, and a sea urchin called Manta Diablo. Told in a style reminiscent of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Manta Diablo is a sea monster that supposedly lives in a nearby lagoon and like most fairy tales, is used liberally by mothers and fathers to scare their children into being good. Local fisherman and pearl divers also fear the wrath of Manta Diablo and continue to pass on the story that no one should enter Manta Diablo's domain. When divers or fisherman fail to return from the sea, Manta Diablo is blamed. So the legend goes that no one should anger him in any way. Ramon's father is a local pearl dealer. Ramon often works in his shop listening to the local lore about the existence of a large black pearl in the cove where Manta Diablo lives. He longs to be a pearl diver but his father forbids it because it is too dangerous. He warns Ramon that only bad luck will come to those who possess the black pearl. Ramon decides to disobey his father and search for the forbidden black pearl. With the help of a local fisherman, he journeys to the forbidden lagoon and recovers the black pearl. Its existence in La Paz is cause for both joy and fear. Many do not believe it is the actual pearl, and pearl dealers hesitate to possess it. It is decided that the pearl will be given to the local church to be held in good keeping by the Virgin Mary, but the pearl continues to exert its influence. Young readers will enjoy this immersion into a culture so vividly described, and following Ramon on the adventure of the black pearl. The story isperfect for reading aloud to provide time for discussion on cultural understanding. 1996 (orig. 1967), Dell Books, Ages 10 to 14. \ —Meredith Kiger, Ph.D.\ \ \ From the Publisher"A gripping story that will hold practically any age enthralled." Horn Book\ "A gripping story that will hold practically any age enthralled." Horn Book Guide\ \ \
