Darius Bell and the Glitter Pool

Darius is a kid with some dorky friends and an annoying older brother; his father is a daydreamer and his mother is a lovable optimist and neither of them have any idea how to solve a very pressing problem...
By law and by tradition, the family has to donate an impressive gift, the Bell Gift, to the town every 25 years. Previous gifts have been bits of civic sculpture and some stained glass windows, but now the family doesn't have any money. Mr Podcock the Mayor can't wait till the Bells default on the gift and have to relinquish the estate forever.
To tell more would be to spoil the story - let's just say that there are some nicely plotted cliff-hangers and disappointments, and that it all ends up happily ever after but not as the reader show more expects. show less

Darius Bell is from the distinguised family of Bells, or more correctly, the Arbuthnot-Huntington-Castleton-Bells. The family has a history of great generals and nobles who were showered with gifts and grants of land and houses, such as the run down mansion that the greatly diminished Bell's currently live in. Every 25 years, the Bells are required to give the township a gift in return for living in the house or else forfit their rights to it. Gifts in the past have been grand gestures like statues and stained glass windows. Everyone in the town is very curious as to what gift this generation of Bells can afford to bestow.

Frustrated at his dreamy father, Darius racks his brain to come up with an idea for a gift to salvage the family show more name and occupancy of the house and land. During this time a small earthquake uncovers a cave underground that gitters with what he thinks is rubies and gold. All their problems will be solved. Well, until they contact a geologist that is...

A charming story that covers some wonderful concepts which include family dynamics, independence, pride and friendship. show less

Darius loves living in his family's grand old mansion, Bell House... well, once grand old mansion. Now it is in a sad state of disrepair. Darius loves the clock tower, where he goes to think, and the echo gallery, which is so big his friends can play football in it on wet days. He loves the old stone garden house in the middle of the wood. But his family can only stay there if they present a gift to the village every 25 years. This year, at the end of the month, the gift is due but Darius's dreamy father doesn't have any money and it looks like the family may have to forfeit their home if they can't come up with something soon. What can Darius do? Notable author, Odo Hirsch gives us a fabulous story that deservedly won the Children's show more Book Council of Australia's award for Book of the Year: younger readers. I recommend it especially for about 8 -12 years show less

I found this to be a really 'nothing' book and was pleased that it was a quick read. Darius' father would have to be one of the most frustrating and stupid characters I have met in a while and I felt extremely sorry for his poor wife. With only one more book to read, I must say I have been very disappointed with the selection books that have been short-listed for the Children's Book Council of Australia's book of the year.

The Bell family's ancestors were showered with honours, gifts and grants of land. In exchange, they have bestowed a Gift, once every 25 years, on the town. The Gifts have ranged from a statue to a bell tower with stained-glass windows, but now it's Darius's father's turn - and there is no money for an impressive gift.

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