Sunday, March 9, 2014

BOOK REVIEW: THE RUBY PENDANT (Cleopatra's Legacy, Book 2) by Dorine White

THE RUBY PENDANT:
Book II of Cleopatra's Legacy
Dorine White
180 pp.
Ages 8 -12

Welcome to New Orleans- home of Mardi Gras, jazz music and voodoo. Eighth grader Melanie Belaforte is home for Spring break and itching for excitement. Late one night she discovers a hidden chamber and a secret journal in her deceased Aunt Florence’s bedroom. The diary contains the writings of a mad woman, along with vague clues to the whereabouts of a ruby necklace that once belonged to Cleopatra. The ruby bestows upon the wearer the power to hear other people’s thoughts- even the thoughts of the dead! And so the hunt begins. Melanie, her best friend Sybil, and a haunting specter unravel clues that take them from crumbling graveyards, to the busy streets of the French Quarter, and then into murky swamps, all to find the prize. But they need to watch out, because a murderous cult is matching them step for step, and they won’t give up, ever.

MY REVIEW:

Melanie misses her eccentric Aunt Flo. But when she discovers a secret room in Flo's house and gets an unexpected visit from a friendly ghost, Melanie soon finds herself traipsing through New Orleans in search of Flo's Ruby Pendant. The pendant is one of four magical gems hailing back to Ancient Egypt. Taken from Cleopatra as she lay dying and hidden throughout the world, the gems are pursued by a secret society wanting the gems for their own power and gain. Melanie, along with her friend Sybil and Sara Bogus (from The Emerald Ring) must find the ruby before they do!

Secret rooms! A missing necklace! Ghosts! The Ruby Pendant is a thrill-ride through New Orleans, a creative blend of suspense, mystery, and historical tidbits sure to tantalize readers of all ages. A worthy sequel to the first book in the Cleopatra Legacy series, The Emerald Ring.


CONTENT RATING:

Profanity:  None
Violence:  Mild
Sexuality:  None

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