The Glow Stone Hardcover – February 1, 2006

The Glow Stone I am delighted to have read The Glow Stone. It is so well written, right from the start with its opening statement, "I died once." This is a story about the impact of family secrets, but it is an unusual yet important topic for young adults, as the secret in this case is depression as a hereditary trait. And, as if mirroring all that is hidden in the protagonist's immediate family, everyone is called by a pet name. But in the extended family of Bradford and Erica, real names are used, and it is from this extended family that the truth is revealed. Dreyer shows really well how, even though masking the truth could be done with the best of intentions so as to be protective, learning the real situation is ultimately much healthier. The backdrop of being lost in the caves and being desperate to find the way out provides an excellent analogy with Phoebe/Spider desperately trying to find out the truth. And meeting the already dead Bradford in the cave, when she was close to dying herself, and learning from him the real story, was riveting! I couldn't stop reading! And to think this story was inspired by a dream that Dreyer had just shows her power of imagination, excellent story telling, and her willingness to not only find out about caving but also about geology, even to the extent that different sections of the book are given different geological names, such as 'Formation," "Conglomerate," "First Stratum," and so on. A great read, authentically told in the voice of a sixteen year old girl.

The Glow Stone, by Ellen Dreyer, is a wonderful book that brings to life an exciting and likable new heroine as well as bringing to light the issue of depression and bipolar disorder. Phoebe, the main character, is drawn vividly and realistically enough to make the reader really care what happens to her. She tries to deal with the death of a beloved uncle, an event that sparks more than just grief in her family, as old secrets make themselves felt in new ways. Dreyer's treatment of bipolar disorder, especially in the way in which it affects those around the person suffering is honest and sensitive. The action moves from the psychological to the physical during Phoebe's excursion into a cave with her Aunt Erica. This sequence is tense, exciting and utterly believable. I will be looking for more of Ellen Dreyer's books because she is an excellent novelist!

I started reading "The Glow Stone" a few days ago and literally couldn't put it down. I could picture and feel every moment on each page and truly felt like a member of the main character's family. When Phoebe (the main character) has a life threatening experience, the emotions and moments the author describes are heartwrenching and flow from one second to the next seamlessly and brilliantly. This is a beautifully written book for teens. I think adults would enjoy it as well.

Phoebe is a girl I'd like to have as a friend. She notices. She wonders. She tries to fit the pieces together in order to understand. Besides she likes rocks and minerals, and so do I. In Phoebe's case, rocks and minerals remind her of her cousin who died. Phoebe misses her cousin and when she fingers the stones they collected together, her cousin comes to mind. In this well-crafted story, we follow Phoebe into passages of all kinds, psychological and geological, where dark mysteries may be revealed and healed with time. A very enjoyable read featuring a female heroine worth knowing.

I'd characterize The Glow Stone as a Stephen King style suspense/ghost story with a strong psychological edge. It starts out as a thoughtful study of a young girl in a troubled family and ends with a thrilling test of strength combined with supernatural elements. I was completely engrossed by this book.

Phoebe ("Spider") is a heroine who will captivate all readers who want books about REAL girls: she is bright, independent, funny, and she's trying to figure out herself, her family, and the truths that matter most. (What a welcome change from "teen lit" featuring designer clothes and mean gossip!) The Glow Stone is honest, funny, and exciting (the chapters set in the cave are real nail-biters!), an adventure of the heart and the spirit.

The Glow Stone is a fantastic book. It presents Phoebe's fascinating and suspenseful journey as she discovers some hard truths about her family and chooses to confront them. The writing is engaging, and it's easy to read while still being nuanced and poetic. Well done!

Beautifully written and compelling, the Glow Stone has much to offer. A riveting and fast-moving adventure story on the one hand, an intense exploration of an adolescent's inner demons on the other--a range of readers will be pulled in. And a strong, realistic role model for girls. Highly recommended!