Title:

The Black Pearl

Author:

Scott O'Dell

Category:

Literature

Rating:

Date Reviewed:

November 20, 2024

picked up The Black Pearl because it won a Newbury Honor Medal, so I figured it would be a good story. First published in 1967, The Black Pearl is still on library shelves today; it is considered a classic story for young people. At just 140 pages, it is a quick read. Unfortunately, I think the brevity is detrimental to the story telling. I never felt much emotional connection to any of the characters. The story does not give much insight into the personalities and characters, so there wasn't much concern on my part as to the fate of Ramon (the hero). The story is told in first person, in straight-forward unembellished prose.

The protagonist of the story is Ramon Salazar, who lives in the sea side town of La Paz in Mexico, on the shores of the Vermilion Sea. Ramon is the son of the head pearl merchant in town, and thus the Salazars are one of the wealthiest families in La Paz. Ramon's father, Blas Salazar, buys pearls from the townspeople; he also owns a small fleet of five boats that will go out to the reefs and hunt for pearls on their own. Ramon longs to go out on the boats with his father, but his father warns him of the many dangers - drowning, storms and the fearsome monster the villagers call Manta Diablo. Manta Diablo is a gigantic manta ray, capable of crushing small boats with a flick of its giant "wings". Does Manta Diablo actually exist? Many people claim to have seen the beast, but Ramon is skeptical of their claims.

One day, Ramon's father is out with his fleet on an overnight expedition. When old Indian Soto Luzon shows up with a pearl to sell, Ramon pleads to join him on a pearl hunting trip. Luzon is reluctant, but Ramon is insistent. Soon they are paddling in Luzon's canoe to a secret harbor where the old man does his pearl harvesting. Luzon warns Ramon that there is a huge underwater cave there, and that Manta Diablo dwells in that cave, though sometimes the monster is out roaming the open ocean - that is when it is safe to dive for clams. Of course Ramon dives to the very mouth of the cave, and finds a gigantic clam. When the clam is cracked open, Ramon is astonished to find a huge black pearl. Luzon tells Ramon to throw it back, because Manta Diablo will be very angry if Ramon keeps the pearl. Of course Ramon keeps the amazing treasure.

When his father returns, he is astonished by Ramon's amazing discovery. The entire village celebrates. The pearl buyers come to inspect the treasure. Blas insists that the price shall be 20,000 pesos, and not a peso less. There are long heated negotiations, but his father refuses to concede. He sends Ramon to fetch the village priest, Father Gallardo. If his price is not met, then the peal will be donated to the village church!

Everything about this story felt inevitable. Of course Ramon would find the fabled black pearl. Of course bad luck will strike the village while they keep the black pearl. Of course the lying brute Ruiz will try to steal the pearl. And of course Ramon will encounter the Manta Diablo.

O'Dell is most famous for his Island of Blue Dolphins, which also won a Newbury Honor award. I have not read that either, and now I am not so inclined to go looking for it on the library shelves.