Darius Bell and the Glitter Pool facts for kids
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| Author | Odo Hirsch |
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| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Published | 2009 (Allen & Unwin) |
| Media type | Print (paperback) |
| Pages | 232 |
| ISBN | 9781741757163 |
| OCLC | 277160254 |
| Followed by | Darius Bell and the Crystal Bees |
Darius Bell and The Glitter Pool is an exciting adventure novel written by Australian author Odo Hirsch. It was published in 2009. This story follows a young boy named Darius Bell as he tries to save his family's reputation and fortune.
Contents
About the Story
The Bell Family Tradition
The Bell family lives in a grand old mansion called the Bell estate. This home was given to their ancestors a long time ago. But there's a special rule: every 25 years, the Bell family must give a unique gift to the town. This gift is meant to honor their family name.
A Big Problem for Darius
As the next gift deadline gets closer, Darius makes a worrying discovery. His father has no gift ready for the town. Even worse, the Bell family is actually quite poor! Darius's father believes the gift must be amazing and truly special. He wants it to be something that makes the Bell name shine.
Discovering the Glitter Pool
One day, an earthquake shakes the town. Darius goes outside to check for damage. He finds a large hole that has opened up in the ground. Darius, along with his two friends, Oliver and Paul, decides to explore this mysterious hole.
Inside the hole, they find something incredible. It looks like a cave filled with sparkling, colorful stones. Darius immediately thinks they are valuable rubies and gold! He calls it the "Glitter Pool."
Hopes and Disappointment
Darius is overjoyed. He believes the Glitter Pool is the perfect solution to all his family's problems. He dreams of showing it to his parents and saving their fortune. But first, he wants to be sure.
Darius decides to visit Professor Heggarty, a geology expert. Sadly, the professor tells Darius the truth. The sparkling stones are not rubies or gold. They are just common minerals called limonite and vanadinite. This news crushes Darius.
Learning a Valuable Lesson
This is a tough moment for Darius. Later, he takes his friend Marguerite to see the Glitter Pool. He tells her it's worthless. But Marguerite sees something different. She says she prefers it this way.
If the stones were truly valuable, people would tear them down for money. But because they are not, their natural beauty remains untouched. Marguerite tells Darius she would rather have this beautiful sight than any expensive gems.
A New Perspective
Marguerite's words change Darius's mind. He realizes that true value isn't always about money. He now sees the world in a new way. If Marguerite loves the Glitter Pool for its beauty, others will too.
Darius decides that the Glitter Pool itself will be the family's gift to the town. He plans to make it safe and ready for everyone to visit. He asks his friends for help to prepare the site.
The Final Gift
Darius is very excited about revealing the Glitter Pool. But then he learns another hard truth. The Glitter Pool is on Bell family land. This means it cannot be given as the official town gift.
With no other choice, Darius and his family have to give a simple barrel of vegetables as their gift. The mayor, Mr. Podcock, makes fun of them. But Darius's father, Hector, stands up to the mayor. He makes the mayor feel small and embarrassed.
Darius then understands something important. An amazing gift wasn't necessary after all. He also learns that a gift given freely, from the heart, is much better than one given out of obligation.
Proud Moments
As the Bell family drives home, they see many people gathered around the Glitter Pool. Darius's parents find out about everything he did. They are incredibly proud of him. Even Cyrus, Darius's older brother, who usually thinks Darius is useless, admits that Darius did something good.
Life returns to normal for the Bell family. But now, everyone has a new respect for Darius. They have all learned two very important lessons about true value and giving.
