Review of Lucy and the Magic Shell

[Julie Gebrosky]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Lucy and the Magic Shell" by Jan Richey King.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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It’s not uncommon for people to pick up a conch shell that they see on the beach and put it up to their ears. The purpose of doing this is to hear a whoosh sound like the waves of the ocean. Lucy is a little girl who does this exact thing. She finds a conch shell, puts it up to her ear, and listens. Instead of a whooshing sound, there is a voice. What the voice had to say changed her life forever. What did the voice say? Read Lucy and the Magic Shell by Jan Richey King to find out!
 
I liked the author’s use of positive messages in this book. It showed nicely that one positive action can lead to another. I think there were valuable lessons in the book too, like sharing, kindness, and believing in yourself. The illustrations were also very well done.
 
While I am glad that Lucy made a positive change in her life, I wish that change had happened more organically rather than simply by listening to a shell. I think the story would have been better if the shell had given specific advice like, "Think of a nice thing you can do for Penny." Seeing Lucy follow that and think about the results of that decision would be a better way to frame the story. There was also a lot of text per page. That’s fine for adults or older readers, but for young children, it could be an issue due to shorter attention spans.
 
I give Lucy and the Magic Shell a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. I reduced the rating by one star due to the large chunks of text and the fact that it contained a couple of minor editing errors. Overall, it was a cute story with a great message about spreading positivity.
 
This book is best suited for young children who like the beach or stories about magic. It’s a good story for families to read together and discuss how they can make a positive impact on the lives of others.

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Lucy and the Magic Shell
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[Rica Concepcion]

I can say that it is a cute story. I did put a shell in my ears to hear the whoosh sound of the sea up until now. It was enthralling. What did she hear from the shell that changed her life? Would reading this book change our lives too? We better get this copy! Thanks for the review.

[Odichimma Okoye]

My eyes widened when you mentioned there was a voice emitted from the conch shell the protagonist put by her ears. I do love the whooshing sound those shells make, and I sometimes wonder...What causes those sounds to be made? They're soothing sounds. I love the plot base. I'm intrigued to know what Lucy heard from the shell. Wonderful review!

[Seetha E]

Adorable little Lucy, and a magical shell that speaks words of wisdom that alters her life. Nice story!
I used to enjoy doing this with my girls just as much as I did when I was younger. Finding a speaking shell in the real world would be incredible. Until then..., will enjoy this book. It seems like a worthwhile read. I appreciate your thoughtful assessment.

[Hazel Mae Bagarinao]

I'm curious what the voice says to Lucy that changes her life forever. Sometimes, life turns unexpectedly. I also like the theme of sharing. Even though there are some downsides, I think I would enjoy the illustrations of Lucy's story. Thank you for your beautiful writing, Julie!