The Glow Stone

By Ellen Dreyer

The sudden death of her beloved uncle triggers a chain of events that threaten to overwhelm Spider and her family. Fifteen-year-old Phoebe Bernstein (a.k.a. Spider) has been collecting rocks since she was a child. She keeps her prized specimens in a musty underground garage, stored in the drawers of an old desk that was a gift from her beloved young uncle, Bradford. But Bradford's sudden death triggers a chain of events that threaten to overwhelm Spider and her family. As her grieving mother descends into depression, her older sister remains remote and her father strangely silent. The pressure grows even worse when Spider unwittingly discovers a disturbing family secret. On the weekend of Bradford's tombstone unveiling, Spider tries to escape for a while-and becomes hopelessly lost while exploring a labyrinth of caves. In the utter blackness she hears a strangely familiar voice beckoning her deeper into the mysterious but oddly welcoming underground world. Soon she will learn the truth about what happened to Uncle Bradford...but will she ever find her way out of the darkness? Ellen Dreyer has written a dramatic, page-turning adventure that explores the unbreakable bonds that hold families together, even after death.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1561453706
• ISBN13: 9781561453702
• Release Date: February 2006
• Publisher: Peachtree Publishing Company
• Length: 186 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.4" x 8.4"
• Age Range: 13 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 8 to 12

Customer Reviews

The Glow Stone shines a light!

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!

A page turning pleasure

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.

Great book for smart, sensitive girls!

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.

Beautifully Written and Compelling

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!