Darius Bell and the Glitter Pool

Lore & Background

Darius Bell and his family live in the Bell estate, a mansion given to his ancestors under the condition that every 25 years they produce a gift for the town. As the next gift approaches, Darius discovers his father has no gift and the family is broke. An earthquake opens a hole in the ground, and Darius, with friends Oliver and Paul, finds what he believes to be rubies and gold. He fantasizes about revealing this Glitter Pool to his parents as the solution to their problems.

Reader's Guide

Darius seeks help from geology professor Heggarty, who identifies the minerals as limonite and vanadinite, not rubies and gold. Darius then shows the pool to Marguerite, who values its beauty over financial worth. Inspired, Darius decides to give the town access to the Glitter Pool as a gift, but discovers it cannot be used because it lies on Bell estate land. Ultimately, the family gives a barrel of vegetables, and Darius learns that a gift given from free will is more meaningful than one from obligation. The novel won the 2010 CBCA Children's Book of the Year Award for Younger Readers and was praised for its themes of generosity and the true spirit of gift-giving.

Did You Know?

• The minerals Darius finds are actually limonite and vanadinite, not rubies and gold.
• The gift of the Glitter Pool cannot be given because it is on Bell estate land.
• The School Library Journal recommended the book for its portrayal of the true spirit of gift giving and receiving.