Book where a kid is trained to fight evil and at first his power is channeled through a stone his father gives him. (SOLVED)

[Jacob]

Hey guys I'm trying to find a book I read in middle school back in the early 2000's. here's what I remember: a boy and his father are living together and at some point the father gives the son a stone and tells him to keep it safe. Not long after that he is taken from his home and trained to use his mind as a weapon against other people, evil people. He is also taught to defend his mind by imagining it being protected. At first he imagines a wall, but the girl training him breaks through the wall. He eventually imagines it encased in a smooth sphere that all Atacks bounce off of. Eventually he has to face the main guy and the evil takes the form of his brother. During the battle the boy opens his defense just a little bit and lets the idea slip out that he still needs his stone to use his powers. The evil guy attacks and destroys the stone thinking tht now he has won. The boy the attacks and wins because the evil let down its defenses.

That's all I can remember. If anybody can tell me the Name of the book I'd be extremely grateful. Thanks!

[Kris]

Just a guess - The Twelve Stones by R.J. Johnson?

[Jacob]

No still not it but thanks

[John]

Kris wrote: "Just a guess - The Twelve Stones by R.J. Johnson?"

that's what I was going to say. It didn't match completely.

[Jacob]

Yeah there was only one stone that his father gave him. But it was just to help him learn to use his powers.

[Kris]

Is the setting sci-fi, wizards/fantasy, or contemporary?

[Jacob]

More wizard/fantasy, like they traveled by foot or horse. I want to say that there were creatures that served the evil but I couldn't tell you what kind or describe them, only that they had to fight them as they traveled.

[Kate]

This sounds so familiar. I'll have to look through my book list.

[Jacob]

Thank you so much

[Kris]

The Stowaway (The Stowaway: Stone of Tymora, Book I) by R.A. Salvatore?

Excerpt from an Amazon review: "...he was raised by a forest witch, and passed on to the mysterious wandering warrior Perrault. Perrault was determined to keep the boy -- whom he named Maimun -- safe from all harm, and to give him a magical stone that was his by right. Unfortunately, with the stone comes an old enemy -- the evil demon Asbeel, a shapeshifting creature who is after both Maimun and his magical stone. And when Perrault is badly injured in battle, Maimun flees into the world of the high seas, unsure where to go or what to do. And wherever he goes, there are enemies pursuing him."

[Jacob]

Closer this time but still not it. He was raised by his father and went off with someone one day who showed up at his house.
Again sounds like a really good book ill have to add that one to my reading list.
Thanks so much

[Andria]

The Pearl of Anton?

"His brother having died years earlier, 15-year-old Jason inherits by default the Wizard’s Stone, which has been passed down from father to eldest son for generations...Jason, accompanied by the village Teacher, travels the country in search of the Pearl of Anton, which must be united with the Wizard’s Stone so that the boy can engage in a predestined battle against Pure Evil and Less Evil. Along the way, Jason must overcome his fears and insecurities and learn how to use his powers."

[Jacob]

That might just be it! Ill have to read it to be sure but I'm fairly certain. :)
Thank you!

[Andria]

Be sure to come back and let us know either way, so we can mark this solved or keep searching!

[Jacob]

Will do!