Customer Reviews
Not for 9-12 Year Olds! - By: B. DUGGAN, 30 Sep 2007 
I found this book many years ago, but I only just discovered that it is classed as a children's book; according to Amazon, the reading age is 9-12 years of age, but don't be deceived! This beautiful & lyrical book will go completely over the head of any pre-teen, & the bits they do understand will scare them half to death. I was twenty-ish when I read it & I was entranced. I have reread it often & I am still under its spell. It's one of those books that makes the ordinary world seem magical & special for a while. If you can remember growing upin a world where you didn't quite feel at home (and who can't?), this exquisite, terrifying, uplifting, & beautifully written book is for you. Just don't give it to anyone 9-12.
One of the best books I have ever read - By: Mary Leinart, 21 Sep 2002 I bought a copy of this books years ago from a library book sale, & it sat on my shelf for years, gathering dust, before I cracked it. But once I opened it, within a few paragraphs I was hooked. I cannot even remember how many times I have read this book since then, but I still love it as much as ever. And now, a brief synopsis:
Bentley Ellicott,in spite of his crippled leg, dead mother & distant father, appeared to be a normal, happy child. He is a bright boy who loves school & baseball, & generally revelsin his childhood. This is because Bentley knows the purpose of his life. He can remember the beautiful place of perpetual childhood from which he came & to which he will return when his life is over. He also knows that all the great heroes of history were grownups, so he has time to enjoy his childhood.
Then,in the autumn before his ninth birthday, things begin to change. A feeling of oppression sweeps over the tiny town of Stonehaven, & Bentley's heart tells him that the time for waiting is over. Bentley knows that Ombra, the Lord of Nightmares is coming to do battle with him, since he is what is known as the hero of the borrowed heart. Throughout history, Ombra has always appeared to the heroin the form of his greatest fear, so Bentley sets out to discover what his fear might be.
Bentley doesn't want to tell Dr Kreistein his secret, but the psychologist draws it out of him anyway. When Bentley begins to speak to himin his native German, the doctor begins to believein spite of himself. Bentley reminds him that he has met Ombra before,in Germany; heard his screeching voice on the radio, seen millions of ecstatic young menin uniforms hearkening to his call. Bentley knows that it was because of Ombra that Dr Kreistein's sister died. Bentley takes the doctor on as his teacher, & they begin to search for Bentley's fear together.
Then there's Sally, a little girl with a speech impediment who no one understood at all until Bentley came along. Bentley listens to her beautiful language & can tell people what she is saying. The two become fast friends. But Sally isin danger, as is everyone close to Bentley, as Ombra begins to infect the people of Stonehaven with his evil. Ombra taunts Bentley, promising to fix his leg, if he will only give up their quarrel. Bentley refuses, as things begin to spiral out of control.
And now for the old horror sell:
What form will Prince Ombra take? Will Bentley be able to defeat him & save his friends, his town, the world? Find outin Prince Ombra, coming soon to a used book store near you!
