“Russell Crannaker looked up and down the alley.”

From Bruce Coville’s The Monster’s Ring.

Thanks to his far-from-scary appearance and his overbearing mother have combined to make Russell an easy and frequent target for bullying. While trying to avoid another attack from Eddie the school bully, Russell finds himself hiding in an alley and then ducking into a small store until Eddie has gone. Once inside, Russell realizes that he’s entered a magic shop run by the odd Mr. Elives, and the boy curiously looks around while he waits Eddie out. Russell is quickly intrigued by a monster’s ring that Elives promises allows the wearer to transform into a monster by twisting the ring, and the frequently-bullied boy decides to buy the ring. Elives tells Russell the rules and warnings for the ring, but Russell is still skeptical of the ring’s power and doesn’t pay much attention. However, when Russell tries the ring, it works and he is transformed into a scary, powerful monster. Armed with the power of the ring, Russell uses his monster strength to stand up to Eddie and some of the other problems in his life. Russell feels that his life is finally going his way, but when he ignores the warning Mr. Elives gave about the ring, Russell finds himself facing more than he bargained for with his monstrous side.

As the first book in the Magic Shop series, this story does a good job of drawing the reader into the magically unique world. Coville wisely keeps the story focused on the development of the main character and slightly less on secondary characters. Filled with some minor thrills and impressive imaging, The Monster’s Ring is the perfect read for any young reader looking for an unforgettable adventure.