Ramon cannot believe what he has just found in an oyster he’s brought up from an underwater cave where the Manta Diablo, the monster devilfis...
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Dec 16, 2009
Femy
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i had to re-write a book report for this book in the 8th grade cuz the teacher new i didn't really read it after i first handed in the report. ha. turned out it wasn't that bad
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Sep 16, 2010
carolyn
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I have always been a fan of Scott O'Dell. His stories are fit for both the young and old and written in a way that both can enjoy. "The Black Pearl" is about a young boy Ramon who becomes partners with his father. They would voyage out to sea and dive for pearls, in hopes of one day finding the heavenly pearl of all others, but many were fearful of bringing forth the monster Manta Diablo, for the stories they have heard were those of mishappenings, curses and death. Ramon dived into th
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Apr 11, 2009
Zarakoda
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Ramón Salazar is sixteen and learning from his father how to conduct their business selling pearls. However, Ramón dreams of diving into the waters himself to obtain the largest pearl ever seen by mankind. He seizes the opportunity to do so in a lagoon and discovers the Pearl of Heaven, a great black pearl that is owned by the Manta Diablo. The Manta Diablo seeks to take back his possession and wreak havoc on Ramón's family. Ramón finds himself in a dangerous position in which he must decide
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Jan 18, 2012
Brenda
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A boy growing up in Baja California dreams of finding the Pearl of Heaven.
I read this book at the suggestion of my wonderful nephew Josh. The story follows a young man, heir to his family's pearl business, as he learns the ways of pearling and the world. He dreams of gaining some prestige in the eyes of his village and a sinister braggart, the Sevillano, who works for his father and is the best diver in the fleet. His dreams are realized through the discovery of a giagantic, perfect More...
I read this book at the suggestion of my wonderful nephew Josh. The story follows a young man, heir to his family's pearl business, as he learns the ways of pearling and the world. He dreams of gaining some prestige in the eyes of his village and a sinister braggart, the Sevillano, who works for his father and is the best diver in the fleet. His dreams are realized through the discovery of a giagantic, perfect More...
Sep 16, 2011
Karenc5
rated it: 
WARNIGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG! i might give to much info about this book was
really boring for me , a part of mexico called La Paz where a young boy name Ramon lives.
His father works under the water, his not a submarine, but he finds pearls under the sea.
beautiful pearls which he sells to the people. Ramon whishes that one day he would be just like his father . Ramon's dad could tell if a pearl was good enough to be sell by raising it up to the sun and weighting it. but first he needed More...
really boring for me , a part of mexico called La Paz where a young boy name Ramon lives.
His father works under the water, his not a submarine, but he finds pearls under the sea.
beautiful pearls which he sells to the people. Ramon whishes that one day he would be just like his father . Ramon's dad could tell if a pearl was good enough to be sell by raising it up to the sun and weighting it. but first he needed More...
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Jun 21, 2009
Sarah
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When forced to read this book in 5th grade class with Ms. Seagull (I really have no recollection of how to really spell her name...), I HATED it. I wanted to throw it across the room everytime we had to take it out of our pile of books and read aloud. When forced to read it again in 8th grade, my teacher didn't believe me that I'd already read it, and I had to prove it. I've since read it a third time, and did actually understand why it's considered an honorable book; however, the original da
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Nov 28, 2011
Allison
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If I didn't have to read this book for a school report, I probably wouldnn't of read it. I rated this book a 2/5 because it just wasn't something that interested me or connected with me. I liked Ramun Salazar's character. He seemed like a shy boy, but he had big thoughts. I really liked O'Dell's aura of mystery written into this book. This book really helped my learn more about the country of Mexico and it's origin. I would not request this book, because it seems to move slowly. There are lots o
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May 17, 2011
Sharri
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Whew! I read this Newbery Honor Book aloud to my 8-yr-old son and, man, did it ever pass the Lego test! (Lego test: if my son is really interested in the story, he puts down his Legos to either sit by me or pace the room.)
It tells the story of the son of a wealthy pearl diver in Baja California perhaps 100 years ago. Ramon grows up hearing stories of the Manta Diablo, a monster-sized manta ray given all sorts of mythical powers by locals. But how much is true? Ramon must figure this More...
It tells the story of the son of a wealthy pearl diver in Baja California perhaps 100 years ago. Ramon grows up hearing stories of the Manta Diablo, a monster-sized manta ray given all sorts of mythical powers by locals. But how much is true? Ramon must figure this More...
Aug 01, 2008
Faith
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jul 12, 2009
karen
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this is the kind of book you dont even need a bookmark for, because it isnt going to take you more than one sitting to finish. i read it because i need to read 3 newbery or honor books i havent read before for class (why am i so honest??) and i love island of the blue dolphins more than most books, but have never read anything else by scott o'dell. i dont know how kiddies respond to it, but for me it was too brief to really grab me. the descriptions are still great, and its a fine story, but as
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Jul 07, 2009
Laura
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This was a quick fun read. It was a poignant coming of age story. I'd like my kids to read this one, I would enjoy discussing it with them.
In this story Ramon, a 16 year old son of a wealthy Pearler, dreams of finding a gigantic black pearl. He wants to find the great "Pearl of Heaven" to prove that he is a man. After repeated humiliation at the hands of the Sevillano, one of his Father's employees, he desires to prove his worthiness.
He finds the great blac More...
In this story Ramon, a 16 year old son of a wealthy Pearler, dreams of finding a gigantic black pearl. He wants to find the great "Pearl of Heaven" to prove that he is a man. After repeated humiliation at the hands of the Sevillano, one of his Father's employees, he desires to prove his worthiness.
He finds the great blac More...
Mar 08, 2010
Jadmary713
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I thought that the book was okay because it was a little too easy for me. I also thought that it was okay beacause it wasn't like the other books that Scott O'Dell wrote. I thought it was actually a little dull.
I can make a small connection with Ramon because sometimes I do get a litte hyper or over excited over something that i found or something that i have acomplished. My favorite part of the book was when Ramon saw Manta Diablo and it's eyes were on him. And then Roman felt that More...
I can make a small connection with Ramon because sometimes I do get a litte hyper or over excited over something that i found or something that i have acomplished. My favorite part of the book was when Ramon saw Manta Diablo and it's eyes were on him. And then Roman felt that More...
Feb 25, 2009
Andrea
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I picked this book because I've always wondered about it--I have an old fashioned copy in which the cover portrays a giant manta ray. I also picked it after looking at books that won the Scott O'Dell award. I thought I should read some books by him first. It won the Hans Christian Andersen Award; so, I'm really getting diverse in my award categories. Also, a category I noticed that I often look for when I pick out good books is the Reading Rainbow selection seal. I realize it is not an offic
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Nov 19, 2009
Roger
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I know that I read this book like, last year, but it was a GREAT book. The book encapusulates so many themes and lessons, it's nearly impossible for me to delve into the detail this book deserves, so I'll try to cover as many as I can.
1) First off, the thing you need to understand is that this book takes place in another country. The people are very superstitious and a village legend, Manta Diablo, lives in the waters nearby the village. As a matter of fact, it inhabits a cave underw More...
1) First off, the thing you need to understand is that this book takes place in another country. The people are very superstitious and a village legend, Manta Diablo, lives in the waters nearby the village. As a matter of fact, it inhabits a cave underw More...
Jan 12, 2009
Haynes
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If you want to read an adventure book The Black Pearl is for. This book is very good the whole story line drags you into wanting to read more. This book is about a boy who wants to learn how to pearl dive a search for famous and rare pearls. The boy takes classes after he is determined to find the strongest pearl he does not stop searching until the mystical creature manta Diablo has found out that he had stole the pearl it starts to put the town in danger by raining, water pools and etc.
Jul 20, 2011
Edy
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The Black Pearl is told in first person by Ramon, a sixteen-year-old boy whose father owns a fleet of pearl diving boats and has quite a large pearl exchange. Ramon dives into a cave said to belong to the Devil Manta and finds the Pearl of the Sky. The acquisition of this pearl starts a chain of events that includes tragedy, self-realization, and acceptance.
(I read this novel in the 70s when I was taking an adolescent lit. class. The critique came from one I did for the class.)
(I read this novel in the 70s when I was taking an adolescent lit. class. The critique came from one I did for the class.)
Nov 25, 2011
Dayna
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This story is set in Baja California. Young Ramon wants to prove to his father that he is a good pearl diver. Ramon wants to dive for the legendary black "pearl of the heavens", but the grotto where this pearl is said to lie is guarded by a giant manta ray known as Manta Diablo. Ramon finds the pearl and brings it home, but then the trouble begins. Should he keep the pearl or give it back to Manta Diablo? A wonderfully told story, if somewhat lacking in excitement.
Mar 01, 2008
Joseph
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it is about a boy of fifteen that finds a large black pearl by diving into a sea. located at La Paz, Calafornia, a legendary Manta Diablo resides there. the pearl is placed with a holy figure in a church known as the Madonna. anything " stolen" from th Manta Diablo is cursed and that is what Ramon, the main character believes. it is when a ship of thirty die out in a storm that the town beleives is the MANTA DIABLO's doing. so, Ramon takes the pearl back and plans to give it back to th
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Jun 14, 2010
McKell
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The Black Pearl by Scott O'Dell is the story of a boy, Ramon, who finds The Pearl of Heaven, a legendary pearl that is greater than all the others. His father gives it to the church hoping that the Madonna will bless his fleet. But Ramon begins to think that the pearl might be bringing bad luck from the manta dialbo.
The book is a quick read and fun. There's not a lot of character development and the ending seemed a little too neat.
The book is a quick read and fun. There's not a lot of character development and the ending seemed a little too neat.
Aug 27, 2009
Jan
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Ramon thinks the legend of the Manta Diablo, the giant manta ray, is just a child's story told by mothers -- "If you do that again, I will tell the Manta Diablo!" Some of the pearl hunters in La Paz, including Ramon's grandfather, said they had seen the great devilfish and told fantastic stories of it. But when he found the great black pearl, Ramon discovered that the Manta Diablo was no legend. Ages 10-14.
Apr 04, 2009
Josiah
rated it:
Scott O'dell once again combines his flawlessly smooth style of writing with an affinity for historical fiction that is matched by perhaps only Elizabeth George Speare and Esther Forbes, among the authors that I have read. This has a very different feel from most of the Newbery books that I have gone through, and I enjoyed the telling immensely. It contains a lot of good story for such a relatively short book.
Aug 25, 2011
David
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I thought it was a wonderful book. I felt that it also could be a metaphor for the idea that nature always finds a way. The book incorporated folk lore and made it almost real. It also provided a window into Mexican life and the effects of socio-economic status. It was a truly riveting story of boy becoming a man.
Sep 28, 2011
Adam
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O’Dell’s clean, sharp prose is always enjoyable. However, unlike Island of the Blue Dolphins, I believe The Black Pearl is likely only to enthrall readers who first encounter it in childhood. A similar book that I would recommend much more highly (a boy’s adventure novel about an encounter with an ominous sea creature) is Geoffrey Household’s suspenseful 1936 book The Spanish Cave.
Dec 03, 2009
Kim
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This is a story of a 16 yr old boy who longs to be like his father and be a great pearl diver. (this was before oxygen tanks exsisted and when you dove you held your breath) He sets his sights on a Black Pearl - but legend has it that the devil of the sea will make you pay if you removed it from the ocean
May 26, 2011
Alisse
rated it:
I thought this book was neat. I thought it was neat because this boy finds a huge black pearl and he and his father have a buissness with pearls. He really donates the pearl to their god and it kills his father by wrecking his ship with a great storm. This is a real good book.
Apr 20, 2009
travelmel
rated it:
I don't remember this. I got it because I loved, loved, loved Island of the Blue Dolphins. This was not the same type of book at all and didn't do much for me as a 9-yr old girl.
I think I liked it better than Scott O'Dell's Eskimo-girl-dog-sled book though.
I think I liked it better than Scott O'Dell's Eskimo-girl-dog-sled book though.
Feb 13, 2009
Read this as part of the Calvin's bedtime series. It's well written, makes you relized how poorly most young adult books are written. I'd be interested if anyone who has read the book has idea on the end, and why the manta didn't go for the pearl.
Jul 21, 2010
Kendra
rated it:
I think that I might have missed the big message of this book. Maybe as I ponder it some more I will get it. It was cool to be transported to Mexico and be a part of one of their leyendas. I have been dreaming of Mexico lately!
Dec 17, 2011
Lori
rated it:
It was a pretty good book for one they made me read in school. I read it in about the.... 7th grade. I remember that it wasn't one of my favorites though, but okay for school, I guess.
