What do you think?
Rate this book
Sam's Quest #1
Sam's Quest for the Crimson Crystal
Sam Mae Costas is nobodys idea of a hero. She is constantly teased about her thick glasses, her small size, and her asthma attacks are embarrassing and difficult to control. When Sam is forced to spend the summer on her grandpa's farm she thinks things can t get much worse. Deep in the caverns below the farm, Prince Buznor is a young Awok on a life-and-death mission to save his world. He has to find Sam and prove to her that only she can find and control the Crimson Crystal... the one weapon that can defeat the evil threatening his people. To reach the Crimson Crystal Sam must journey through the hostile Land of Geffen, facing hordes of catacomb dwarfs, vicious vampire bats and deadly monsters. Can Sam overcome her fears, her doubts, and find the Crimson Crystal in time to save the Awokian world?
192 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2007
About the author
Ben Furman
5 booksLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Ben R. Furman, former FBI counter-terrorism chief, has drawn on his years of investigative experience to write about high-tech terrorism, chemical, biological, and nuclear threats, and transnational criminal cartels. During his FBI career he investigated kidnappings, extortions, bank robberies, led SWAT teams and was the FBI counter terrorism chief assigned to address threats against the United States by terrorists of all stripes, including nuclear terrorism. He also writes fantasy adventure novels with positive messages for the young adult, juvenile market.
Ben R. Furman, former FBI counter-terrorism chief, has drawn on his years of investigative experience to write about high-tech terrorism, chemical, biological, and nuclear threats, and transnational criminal cartels. During his FBI career he investigated kidnappings, extortions, bank robberies, led SWAT teams and was the FBI counter terrorism chief assigned to address threats against the United States by terrorists of all stripes, including nuclear terrorism. He also writes fantasy adventure novels with positive messages for the young adult, juvenile market.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 10, 2012
Reviewed by Rebecca Wells for TeensReadToo.com
Eleven-year-old Sam Costas can't imagine anything worse than being stuck on her grandfather's farm while her archaeologist parents travel the world. The summer stretches out before her in an unswerving road of boredom, but unbeknownst to Sam, an adventure is about to come searching for her...
Deep in the caverns below the farm, Prince Buznor, a young Awok, is on a perilous mission. He must find Sam and bring her back to Innerworld, where she is asked to complete a special quest. According to Awok legend, she is the only Outworlder who can locate and control the Crimson Crystal, the one weapon that can defeat the enemies threatening Buznor's people.
To reach the Crimson Crystal, Sam and Buznor must travel through dangerous lands and face vicious monsters that threaten them as well as treachery from within their trusted ranks. Will Sam be able to overcome her fears and find the Crimson Crystal in time to save the Awokian world?
SAM'S QUEST FOR THE CRIMSON CRYSTAL presents a conventional fantasy story, complete with a hero and obvious villains. The plot of the tale is predictable, but Ben Furman's execution more than compensates for it. Innerworld is a fascinating land with highly inventive creatures - I especially enjoyed the catacomb dwarfs. And though Sam is the typical misfit-turned-hero found in so many escapist fantasy stories, she is unique in that she retains all of her misfit qualities as she journeys through Innerworld; at no point does she shuck off her glasses, throw away her asthma inhaler, and effect a magical transformation into a Hero.
At the end of SAM'S QUEST FOR THE CRIMSON CRYSTAL, Sam may be more confident, but she remains the same asthmatic, lovable Sam that readers will enjoy and identify with.
Eleven-year-old Sam Costas can't imagine anything worse than being stuck on her grandfather's farm while her archaeologist parents travel the world. The summer stretches out before her in an unswerving road of boredom, but unbeknownst to Sam, an adventure is about to come searching for her...
Deep in the caverns below the farm, Prince Buznor, a young Awok, is on a perilous mission. He must find Sam and bring her back to Innerworld, where she is asked to complete a special quest. According to Awok legend, she is the only Outworlder who can locate and control the Crimson Crystal, the one weapon that can defeat the enemies threatening Buznor's people.
To reach the Crimson Crystal, Sam and Buznor must travel through dangerous lands and face vicious monsters that threaten them as well as treachery from within their trusted ranks. Will Sam be able to overcome her fears and find the Crimson Crystal in time to save the Awokian world?
SAM'S QUEST FOR THE CRIMSON CRYSTAL presents a conventional fantasy story, complete with a hero and obvious villains. The plot of the tale is predictable, but Ben Furman's execution more than compensates for it. Innerworld is a fascinating land with highly inventive creatures - I especially enjoyed the catacomb dwarfs. And though Sam is the typical misfit-turned-hero found in so many escapist fantasy stories, she is unique in that she retains all of her misfit qualities as she journeys through Innerworld; at no point does she shuck off her glasses, throw away her asthma inhaler, and effect a magical transformation into a Hero.
At the end of SAM'S QUEST FOR THE CRIMSON CRYSTAL, Sam may be more confident, but she remains the same asthmatic, lovable Sam that readers will enjoy and identify with.
March 2, 2009
An entertaining and exciting read awaits young adult readers in "Sam's Quest for the Crimson Crystal" by Ben Furman.
Samantha Mae Costas is not your typical heroine. Her small size and thick glasses have made her the butt of many jokes and her asthma attacks are embarrassing and difficult to control.
When Prince Buznor pleads with her to come to Innerworld, Sam discovers she's a legend. She must push aside self-doubt and fear to find the Crimson Crystal so she can save the Awokian people from elimination.
"Sam's Quest for the Crimson Crystal" is a fun read. Young people will easily relate to Sam's feelings of self-doubt and how she deals with her asthma separating her from her friends when she can no longer participate in soccer. And this is part of what makes Sam's role in Innerworld so delightful. She is thrust into a battle that tests her limits and is forced to reconsider everything she believes about herself.
In addition to Prince Buznor (Buzz), Sam meets a host of interesting characters along the way: Captain Gorn, who has trained all the soldiers and who is a good friend of Buzz and his family; Kryton, the leader of the dragonflies who can communicate with Sam; and Raptor, a bird who also has reptilian features, along with an eclectic group of others. Many friendships are forged along the journey, and Patch, Sam's trusted and faithful canine companion has such a strong personality that you would swear he was human.
With Sam's Quest, Furman has created a fun new world for fantasy lovers to explore. And at a retail price of $8.95 the book is a steal.
A terrific, satisfying, and entertaining story that will leave you begging for more. I eagerly anticipate the release of the next book in the Sam's Quest trilogy.
Samantha Mae Costas is not your typical heroine. Her small size and thick glasses have made her the butt of many jokes and her asthma attacks are embarrassing and difficult to control.
When Prince Buznor pleads with her to come to Innerworld, Sam discovers she's a legend. She must push aside self-doubt and fear to find the Crimson Crystal so she can save the Awokian people from elimination.
"Sam's Quest for the Crimson Crystal" is a fun read. Young people will easily relate to Sam's feelings of self-doubt and how she deals with her asthma separating her from her friends when she can no longer participate in soccer. And this is part of what makes Sam's role in Innerworld so delightful. She is thrust into a battle that tests her limits and is forced to reconsider everything she believes about herself.
In addition to Prince Buznor (Buzz), Sam meets a host of interesting characters along the way: Captain Gorn, who has trained all the soldiers and who is a good friend of Buzz and his family; Kryton, the leader of the dragonflies who can communicate with Sam; and Raptor, a bird who also has reptilian features, along with an eclectic group of others. Many friendships are forged along the journey, and Patch, Sam's trusted and faithful canine companion has such a strong personality that you would swear he was human.
With Sam's Quest, Furman has created a fun new world for fantasy lovers to explore. And at a retail price of $8.95 the book is a steal.
A terrific, satisfying, and entertaining story that will leave you begging for more. I eagerly anticipate the release of the next book in the Sam's Quest trilogy.
September 14, 2008
Eleven year old, Samantha “Sam” Mae Costas live a normal, quiet life till she met Prince “Buzz” Buznor that fatal day on her grandfather’s farm. Buzz comes from a place called Innerworld. Buzz is on a mission to protect his world from the Zogs and to defeat their leader, Drogon. Buzz needs Sam’s help in order to complete his quest. Both Sam and Buzz travel to the Land of Geffen to begin their quest. Sam and Buzz go in search of the Crimson Crystal. It won’t be an easy task as they will have to fight dwarfs and monsters; through the scorching heat and even the frigid tundra’s. Who will come out victorious the Zogs or Buzz and Sam? To find out you will have to read Sam’s Quest for the Crimson Crystal.
Sam is your average, normal girl, who ends up going on a quest to Innerworld. Sam may not have any extraordinary powers like Harry Potter but she’s still up for any challenge that comes her way. Because of this, I think that readers will fall in love with Sam. I thought that Sam’s Quest for the Crimson Crystal was a cute, fun book that young adults would like to read. Don’t be fooled by the size of this book; it may be small but author Ben Furman makes up for it by making sure there is lots of excitement throughout the book.
Sam is your average, normal girl, who ends up going on a quest to Innerworld. Sam may not have any extraordinary powers like Harry Potter but she’s still up for any challenge that comes her way. Because of this, I think that readers will fall in love with Sam. I thought that Sam’s Quest for the Crimson Crystal was a cute, fun book that young adults would like to read. Don’t be fooled by the size of this book; it may be small but author Ben Furman makes up for it by making sure there is lots of excitement throughout the book.
November 28, 2008
Review at reviewabook123.blogspot.com
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews