When Amber discovers a dusty red bottle in her elderly neighbor’s shed, she knows at once that it’s meant to be hers. Then she meets the strange djinn that lives in the bottle, and is catapulted into an adventure she never imagined.
Amber’s had a few problems to deal with lately – bullies at school, a cranky teacher and her best friend moving away. Now at least she has a magical friend to talk to … if she can keep him safe.
Can Amber find the courage to deal with the bullying, make new friends and protect her djinn from harm?
And what’s the mysterious task she’ll have to perform that the djinn keeps hinting at?
IP (Interactive Publications Pty Ltd) –
“The bright colours and bold style of the cover of The Ruby Bottle invite readers to open the book to start the story. When Amber finds a dusty red glass bottle in the shed of her elderly neighbour, Mrs Heggety she feels certain that the bottle is meant for her to keep. It doesn’t take long before she discovers a secret: a curious djinn named Jimell lives in the beautiful red bottle. As she gets to know his story, he tells her that she must perform an important task but cannot say what it is.
While the story of the djinn in the bottle unfolds and the history of the bottle is revealed through Roger Heggety’s diary, another story interweaves through the narrative. Amber is lonely since her best friend, Bethany moved house and she is being bullied at school by Marissa and her friend, Rachel.
The two stories merge in a tale of mystery and adventure that subtly explores the theme of friendships and relationships: new and old friends as well as young and old friends. Jimell encourages Amber to believe in herself and through his friendship and that of a new friend, Ricco she gains confidence to be independent and achieve by herself … not by magic.
Readers aged 9 to 12 will be drawn into the intriguing mystery of The Ruby Bottle from the first pages till the final pages.”
– Margaret Warner, BuzzWords online
IP (Interactive Publications Pty Ltd) –
“Things aren’t going well for Amber – especially since her best friend, Bethany, has moved far away. School work is getting harder for her and two girls in her class are bullying her at every turn. Then one day Amber receives a ruby red bottle and an old diary. And what is inside her ruby bottle? After she opens it her adventures really begin.”
– Mary Mageau