Cooper, Susan

The Dark Is Rising Sequence: Silver on the Tree; The Grey King; Greenwitch; The Dark Is Rising; and Over Sea, Under Stone

Average customer rating:

new movie
Light Is Rising
Wonderful, wonderful series
DiRS: Box Set
beautiful

The Dark Is Rising Sequence: Silver on the Tree; The Grey King; Greenwitch; The Dark Is Rising; and Over Sea, Under Stone
Susan Cooper
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Horror Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Literature | Children's Books | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books

Series | Children's Books | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books

Horror | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books

Teens | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books
Similar Items:

The Book of Three (The Chronicles of Prydain)
The Black Cauldron (The Chronicles of Prydain)
The High King (The Chronicles of Prydain)
The Castle of Llyr (The Chronicles of Prydain)
Taran Wanderer (The Chronicles of Prydain)

ASIN: 0020425651

Amazon.com

Joined by destiny, the lives of the Drew children, Will Stanton, and a boy named Bran weave together in an exquisite, sometimes terrifying tapestry of mystery and quests. In the five-title series of novels known as The Dark Is Rising Sequence, these children pit the power of good against the evil forces of Dark in a timeless and dangerous battle that includes crystal swords, golden grails, and a silver-eyed dog that can see the wind. Susan Cooper's highly acclaimed fantasy novels, steeped in Celtic and Welsh legends, have won numerous awards, including the Newbery Medal and the Newbery Honor. Now all five paperback volumes have been collected in one smart boxed set. These classic fantasies, complex and multifaceted, should not be missed, by child or adult. The set includes Over Sea, Under Stone, The Dark Is Rising, Greenwitch, The Grey King, and Silver on the Tree. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter

Customer Reviews:

new movie.......2007-05-18

I remember reading this series years ago and since then I have always thought that it would make a great movie and guess what someone else thought so as well. IMDB is reporting that this movie is in production and will be released in October 2007. I am very excited about this and I am really wishing and hoping that they translate it well to the big screen. I have since lost my books but I have just purchased this set to read all the books again and relive my youth again.

Light Is Rising.......2007-05-12

The series as a whole is great. if you have never read them before but enjoy other great fantasy such as Harry Potter, the Forgotten Realms, or even the Lord Of The Rings these are a must read. they have been great books for the last 35 years or so and will continue to be great books 50 years from now.

Wonderful, wonderful series.......2007-05-06

This series is my son's absolute FAVORITE. He's 8 and I recently decided to introduce him to the books, and he ate them up. He said he likes how the bad people aren't always perfect, and he likes the way the Drew siblings work together in OVER SEA, UNDER STONE and again in GREENWICH and SILVER ON THE TREE. I'm pretty sure that he didn't understand all the symbolism in THE DARK IS RISING, though he liked it and made up his own belt of rings as a result.

This series is really wonderful, and I agree with other reviewers - it should be better known. It's mythical elements mix well with the action scenes. Plus, it's very well written and edited - creating really unique and interesting characters.

I'm sort of judicious with my 5 star ratings, but this one definitely deserved it. Pick them up - you won't be disappointed.

DiRS: Box Set.......2007-03-04

I love these books, and I was glad to see that they were now available in a box set!

beautiful .......2007-01-18

This series is better than C.S.Lewis' Narnia, Rowling's Potter-verse or Lloyd Alexander's Prydain. Susan Cooper writes about the real (although dated at this point) world and ordinary people who are brave, comical or tragic without becoming exaggerations. Her magical characters or creatures are awesome, but never overpower or overshadow her real people, so the stories stay very human. And she writes so beautifully about things that are actually beautiful. The stories are full of the beauty of music, the natural world and objects people make as art and architecture or ordinary things. The dogs are even beautiful. I was heartbroken by the ending the first time I read the series, and refused to go back to the books for a very long time. But now I've read my copies so many times the fall apart and I need to replace them.

Writing the World: Reading and Writing about Issues of the Day

Average customer rating:

Interesting

Writing the World: Reading and Writing about Issues of the Day
Charles R. Cooper , and Susan Peck MacDonald
Manufacturer: Bedford/St. Martin's
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Writing | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Art Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Reference Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers
The St. Martin's Guide to Writing
Sociology
Keys for Writers: A Brief Handbook (English Composition College)
Ideas & Details: A Guide to College Writing

ASIN: 0312260083

Customer Reviews:

Interesting.......2007-06-23

The stories in this book are interesting and make great paper topics (and use for research)

CLEP Principles of Management w/ CD-ROM (REA) - The Best Test Prep for (REA Test Preps)

Average customer rating:

clep principles of management
Great Book on Managment
EXCELSIOR STUDENTS YOU CAN CLEP THIS!

CLEP Principles of Management w/ CD-ROM (REA) - The Best Test Prep for (REA Test Preps)
John R Ogilvie , and Susan T Cooper
Manufacturer: Research & Education Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Test Prep Central | Reference | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Reference Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

CLEP Principles of Marketing w/ CD-ROM (REA) -The Best Test Prep for the CLEP (Test Preps)
Principles of Management (Cliffs Quick Review)
Review fo the CLEP Introductory Business Law Examination
CLEP Principles of Marketing, 5th Ed. (REA) -The Best Test Prep for the CLEP Exam (Test Preps)
Review for the CLEP Principles of Management

ASIN: 073860125X

Book Description

REA … Real review, Real practice, Real results.

An easier path to a college degree – get college credits without the classes.

CLEP PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT – with TESTware
Includes CD with timed practice tests, instant scoring, and more.
Based on today’s official CLEP exam

Are you prepared to excel on the CLEP?
* Take the first practice test to discover what you know and what you should know
* Set up a flexible study schedule by following our easy timeline
* Use REA's advice to ready yourself for proper study and success

Study what you need to know to pass the exam
* The book's on-target subject review features coverage of all topics on the official CLEP exam, including operational and functional aspects of management, human resources, contemporary topics, and more
* Smart and friendly lessons reinforce necessary skills
* Key tutorials enhance specific abilities needed on the test
* Targeted drills increase comprehension and help organize study

Practice for real
* Create the closest experience to test-day conditions with the book’s 2 full-length practice tests on REA’s TESTware CD, featuring test-taking against the clock, instant scoring by topic, handy mark-and-return function, pause function, and more.
* OR choose paper-and-pencil testing at your own pace
* Chart your progress with full and detailed explanations of all answers
* Boost your confidence with test-taking strategies and experienced advice

Specially Written for Solo Test Preparation!

REA is the acknowledged leader in CLEP preparation, with the most extensive library of CLEP titles and software available. Most titles are also offered with REA's exclusive TESTware software to make your practice more effective and more like exam day. REA's CLEP Prep guides will help you get valuable credits, save on tuition, and advance your chosen career by earning a college degree.

Customer Reviews:

clep principles of management.......2007-05-13

i knew nothing on the subject and passed. what more can i say

Great Book on Managment.......2007-05-07

This book is really great, interesting and very much helpful. It explains all the concepts in a clear way and helps you prepare for the test.

EXCELSIOR STUDENTS YOU CAN CLEP THIS!.......2006-06-08

This CLEP guide hasn't been used very many times to pass the CLEP and it didn't even come out until December 20, 2005. This REA review and study guide is far and away the most accurate and in depth review of this CLEP test. To pass the Principles of Management CLEP test you will need to take both sample tests over a period of about a month until you have memorized every single question and answer. Furthermore you will need to read up on the theorists found in the first chapters of the book and you will need to have an excellent understanding of them and their theories. Just memorizing the sample tests is not enough. You will need to read and have a very good understanding of the chapter on budgeting and controlling and you will need to understand that when a manager is controlling he is watching the companies budget and expenses as well as have a good understanding of all of the management theories. If you will memorize every single question and answer you should be fine. One thing you should do to give yourself an edge would be to test yourself using the CBT sample test and then make a sheet with the numbers of the wrong answers followed by blanks and then use that to test yourself out of the book on the questions you got wrong during the CBT test. Repeat this process until you think you have achieved perfection. Yes EXCELSIOR students you can CLEP this but if you have never taken a CLEP test before you might want to take a much easier CLEP exam instead such as Principles of Marketing which contains only facts and doesn 't require that you understand and apply any management theories like the Principles of Business CLEP does.

When Children Love to Learn: A Practical Application of Charlotte Mason's Philosophy for Today

Average customer rating:

Designed for the classroom experience, applicable at home

When Children Love to Learn: A Practical Application of Charlotte Mason's Philosophy for Today

Manufacturer: Crossway Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Education | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Religion & Spirituality Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

For the Children's Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School (Child-Life Book)
A Charlotte Mason Companion: Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning
A Charlotte Mason Education
Charlotte Mason's Original Homeschooling Series
More Charlotte Mason Education

ASIN: 1581342594

Book Description

They’re hallmarks of childhood. The endless “why” questions. The desire to touch and taste everything. The curiosity and the observations.

It can’t be denied—children have an inherent desire to know. Teachers and parents can either encourage this natural inquisitiveness or squelch it. There is joy in the classroom when children learn—not to take a test, not to get a grade, not to compete with each other, and not to please their parents or their teachers—but because they want to know about the world around them!

Both Christian educators and parents will find proven help in creating a positive learning atmosphere through methods pioneered by Charlotte Mason that show how to develop a child’s natural love of learning. The professional educators, administrators, and Mason supporters contributing to this volume give useful applications that work in a variety of educational settings, from Christian schools to homeschools.

A practical follow-up to Crossway’s For the Children’s Sake, this book follows a tradition of giving serious thought to what education is, so that children will be learning for life and for everlasting life.

“When Children Love to Learn is one of the better books I’ve seen on the Charlotte Mason approach. Elaine Cooper has done a phenomenal job of laying down the basic tenets parents of homeschoolers hold dear: a child must love to learn. Narration, living books, nature study—it’s all here. Elaine covers a lot of ground to show how easy it can be to make learning enjoyable. Charlotte Mason fans will love this! Highly recommended for every homeschool reference library.”
Gena Suarez, Publisher, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

Customer Reviews:

Designed for the classroom experience, applicable at home.......2006-02-18

Although this book is designed for the classroom, it very nicely summarizes what the Charlotte Mason method of education is and what it's not, making it a necessary resource for the home educator. It goes to the heart of the subjects and how to implement them. It provides an outline and a structure for you to base your school upon if you so wish. The book is written by various experts on the Charlotte Mason method, providing fresh perspectives throughout. There are short chapters on History, Spelling, Poetry, Math, Foreign Languages, Science and Nature Studies and all the major subjects. The extensive explanation of narration is essential. Susan Shaeffer McCaulay also contributed to this book. I highly recommend this book to anybody interested to know more about the Charlotte Mason method and those wanting to implement her method at home or in the classroom. Together with Charlotte Mason's books and Karen Andreola's A Charlotte Mason Companion, When Children Love to Learn completes an unbeatable combination for the Charlotte Mason homeschooler.

Average customer rating:

It was o.k.
4th volume of THE DARK IS RISING Sequence
Myth, magic, and mystery!
The best book in an excellent series
There's music in these tales

The Grey King
Susan Cooper
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Adventure & Thrillers | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

Classics | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Silver On The Tree
Greenwitch (The Dark Is Rising Sequence)
Over Sea, Under Stone (The Dark Is Rising Sequence)
The Dark Is Rising (The Dark Is Rising Sequence)
The High King (The Chronicles of Prydain)

ASIN: 0689710895

Book Description

There is a Welsh legend about a harp of gold, hidden within a certain hill, that will be found by a boy and a white dog with silver eyes -- a dog that can see the wind. Will Stanton knew nothing of this when he came to Wales to recover from a severe illness. But when he met Bran, the strange boy who owned a white dog, he began to remember. For Will is the last-born of the Old Ones, immortals dedicated to saving the world from the forces of evil, the Dark. And it is Will's task to wake -- with the golden harp -- the six who must be roused from their long slumber in the Welsh hills to prepare for the last battle between the Dark and the Light.

Download Description

Customer Reviews:

It was o.k........2007-03-16

The book starts out where Will, an average person, becomes a warrior. The grey King is when something bad happens and he starts a fire preventing them from getting the golden harp. The fire gets closer so they run up some stairs into Bird Rock and all this weird stuff happens. Then Will wishes that he was out of Bird Rock and they appear at the bottom of the steps. The fire is gone so they get the harp and a vortex appears underneath them and Bran, Will's friend plays the harp and it goes away. I did not really get the book after that but at the end this black smoke surrounds everybody.

I gave the book 3 stars. It is the fourth book in a series so if you read the first 3 books first it will make more sense.

4th volume of THE DARK IS RISING Sequence.......2006-06-09

"...Those men who know anything at all about the Light also know that there is a fierceness to its power, like the bare sword of the law, or the white burning of the sun...at the very heart, that is. Other things, like humanity, and mercy, and charity, that most good men hold more precious than all else, they do not come first for the Light. Oh, sometimes they are there; often indeed. But in the very long run the concern of you people is with the absolute good, ahead of all else...At the centre of the Light there is a cold white flame, just as at the centre of the Dark there is a great black pit bottomless as the Universe."
- a mortal speaking as a free agent to an Old One of the Light, herein

And of all the books in the series, THE GREY KING perhaps illustrates that detatchment of the Light from mortal charity more clearly than any book before it since THE DARK IS RISING, with the hard choices it presented to the Old Ones between their duty to the Light and their private obligations to those they loved. Here, however, the choices made are by mortals, from a man who traded away his allegiance in the hope of becoming a great poet to a woman who left her only child among strangers, one of them a man forever marked in turn by her choices.

In each book of this series, either a previously unknown quantity among the major protagonists of the overall story is introduced to the reader, or familiar protagonists from different volumes work together for the first time. In each case, this serves not only to help join together the mundane waking world with the deeper reality of the battleground between the Light and the Dark, but to re-ground readers in the story so far, thus allowing each volume to function as an independent story as well as part of the greater whole.

In THE GREY KING, the Drews do not appear, and an even greater absence casts a shadow on the story - only the youngest of the Old Ones is an active participant, facing the Brenin Llwyd, the Grey King, the greatest Lord of the Dark whose reasons for binding himself to one small part of Wales are beginning to become horribly apparent. And Will Stanton must achieve this quest independently, having only the clues provided by the outcome of an earlier quest and such mortals as he can trust, who live on or near the farm in Wales where Will has been sent to recover from a serious illness. Several of these mortals are unusually perceptive and have their own roles to play in the quest, which this time is not to gain a tool of power for its own sake as a weapon or a defence, but as a stepping stone to more mysterious ends.

At first I was disappointed to find that Alex Jennings (who narrates the other four volumes' unabridged audio editions) wasn't the reader for THE GREY KING, but I decided to take a chance and get Richard Mitchley's recording of this book, trusting that there was a reason for the change, especially when Jennings was tapped for the next (and final) book in sequence.

I now understand the publishers' decision; THE GREY KING needed a narrator who could speak Welsh (not one of Jennings' strengths). I like Mitchley (particularly as Bran Davies) while still enjoying Jennings on the pre-existing characters. Sigh - if only they'd jointly narrated the last two books so I could've had it both ways...

Myth, magic, and mystery!.......2006-05-28

This is the fourth book in Susan Cooper's wonderfully written Dark Is Rising series. Once read, it is a book not easily forgotten. Unlike other authors writing at the same time, Cooper writes with a mature but lyrical prose which in no way talks down to younger readers and consequently can be read and enjoyed by anyone no matter their age.
The story continues to follow the life of Will Stanton, this time convalescing at his aunt's house in Wales. During his stay, he befriends Bran, a boy with an amazing destiny.
The story is powerful and moving and full of legend and magic.
Susan Cooper paints her setting beautifully.
Will has developed more over the series in to a deep and memorable character.
The book is the only one in the series not read by Alex Jennings, but Richard Michly is an excellent narrator, and I'd be happy for either actor to read any audio book of mine. At least I know they'd be read well. I do feel though that you should stick with the same reader through a series, as it helps lend that extra familiarity to the story and the characters.
All in all an excellent book, can't wait to read the last one.

The best book in an excellent series.......2006-02-19

The Grey King is the 4th book in the 5 part Dark is Rising series, and it is, in my opinion, the best one in the series. This book builds off of the first three (mostly the second), and resumes the story of Will Stanton (of the 2nd and 3rd books) and introduces Bran Davies who becomes a leading character in this and the 5th book. Susan Cooper retains all of the richness of the first three book, and she once again utilizes her skill as a writer to paint a vivid picture of the battle between good and evil (see me review of The Dark is Rising to see my thoughts on how she deals with this topic).

This book goes above and beyond what is brought to us in the first three books of the series. This book is both more mysterious and darker than the first three. I remember reading this book as a child and getting chills from reading it. It was not nightmare scary or anything, somehow it is scary while you were reading it but as soon as you put the book down, so did the fear. I think that it is because Cooper is so skilled a writer that she makes you fear for the characters in her book, not for yourself.

Also, her character development of Will far surpassed what she did in the 2nd and 3rd books with him. She somehow made him more complete, giving him sometimes the confidence and maturity of an "Old One," and, at other times, the timidity and youthfulness of the child of 12 that he was. You can definitely see Cooper's writing skills developing as her series develops. This books is where those skills reach their peak, and they are at a height that only a handful of fiction authors in the last century have surpassed.

Overall grade: A

There's music in these tales.......2006-01-29

Light and Dark clash yet again
Up in the hills of Wales
They really are alive this time
There's music in these tales

Deep in a hill there lies a harp
The wondrous Harp of Gold
One of the Old Ones' Things of Power
It's High Magic controlled

It's Will again who has the task
To end the Sleepers rest
Welsh folklore joins with King Arthur
And Will's put to the test

His new friend Bran's a mystery
He's much more than he seems
His mother left him as a babe
And dashed a good man's dreams

The Brenin Llwyd, or The Grey King
Observes their every error
His breath it forms the clammy fog
His Milgwn provide terror

Caradog Prichard is obsessed
Something's killing his sheep
He blames the dogs who aren't at fault
His anger rages deep

Will they stand against the Dark,
Will they fulfill their quest?
"The Dark is Rising" rates above
But this one's second best.

Amanda Richards, January 28, 2006

Average customer rating:

Greenwitch
A great adventure/quest! Shared it with my grandson!
Book One continued
A bittersweet take on a folk tradition/mystery, within the Dark vs Light setting
On Greenwitch time

Greenwitch
Susan Cooper
Manufacturer: Margaret K. McElderry
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Adventure & Thrillers | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Silver On The Tree
The Grey King (The Dark Is Rising Sequence)
Over Sea, Under Stone (The Dark Is Rising Sequence)
The Dark Is Rising (The Dark Is Rising Sequence)
The Book of Three (The Chronicles of Prydain)

ASIN: 0689304269

Book Description

Simon, Jane, and Barney, enlisted by their mysterious great-uncle, arrive in a small coastal town to recover a priceless golden grail stolen by the forces of evil -- Dark. They are not at first aware of the strange powers of another boy brought to help, Will Stanton -- nor of the sinister significance of the Greenwitch, an image of leaves and branches that for centuries has been cast into the sea for good luck in fishing and harvest.

Their search for the grail sets into motion a series of distubing, sometimes dangerous events that, at their climax, bring forth a gift that, for a time at least, will keep the Dark from rising.

Customer Reviews:

Greenwitch.......2006-07-31

Greenwitch is the third in the superb Dark Is Rising sequence by Susan Cooper.
Shorter than the others in the series, it brings together the Drew Children, Simon, Jane and Barney, encountered in Over Sea Under Stone. And Will Stanton from The Dark Is Rising.
We're back in Cornwall for this particular adventure, and as always, Susan Cooper portrays her setting with her usual attention to detail.
Greenwitch is somewhat darker than Over Sea Under Stone, the only other book in the series to be set in Cornwall. But like the other books, it makes for compulsive reading.
My only little gripe is that I would have liked to see the friendship between Will and the Drews develop more. The Drews are hostile towards Will to begin with, yet Jane at least has warmed to him by the end with no real progression from one state of mind to the next. But its only a little moan. Greenwitch is a worthy addition to the series and not to be missed.
Alex Jennings takes the helm for the reading of this book, as he does for all except book four, and he does a splendid job.

A great adventure/quest! Shared it with my grandson!.......2006-05-02

Greenwitch is a wonderful book. I bought it at a garage sale for my grandson. He's twelve and thinks he's too big for me to read it to him, so let me borrow it when he was through.

We discussed it afterward and agreed that it was an exciting "witch" adventure/quest. It's an older book, but I'm going to try to find the rest of this series.

Ms. Cooper has incorporated all the elements that should make this book a classic to be enjoyed for generations to come.

Great job; highly recommended for boys and girls. Grandparents, too. LOL

Book One continued.......2006-01-26

The third continues from Book one
Along the Cornish shore
With Simon, Jane and Barney Drew
And Merriman once more

Someone's made off with the Grail
It's got to be the Dark
This time Will Stanton's in the mix
And Barney makes his mark

The Grail requires a secret code
To understand the writing
This fell into the deep blue sea
while Light and Dark were fighting

The Greenwitch claims a soggy prize
They need to get it back
While Jane tries her best to be nice
The Dark starts to attack

A lone dark minion on a quest
Gets greedy with his role
He stirs up all the Wild Magic
Before losing control

Will they locate the precious Grail
And break its ancient code?
And will the Greenwitch be appeased
Surrendering her load

For younger fans of fantasy
This series is a must
So go tell your Librarian
"Susan Cooper - or bust!"

Amanda Richards, January 26, 2006

A bittersweet take on a folk tradition/mystery, within the Dark vs Light setting.......2006-01-25

I think this is one of her most magical and enchanting stories. A shining gem in the Dark Is Rising series - not that the others aren't marvelous too, in their own way. The idea of the sad, melancholy elemental, and the child who is the only one to perceive the sadness, and whose sympathy is rewarded - beautiful. And the Cornish setting is drawn with just the right number of deft touches.

On Greenwitch time.......2006-01-20

Let's carefully examine the fantasy series books that are considered classical literature appropriate for adults as well. You have your "Lord of the Rings" and your "His Dark Materials" series by Philip Pullman. And between these two greats we have sandwiched in the center the "Dark Is Rising" books by Susan Cooper. Dark is the right word for them too. Belying their ridiculous Aladdin Paperback covers (The paperback of "Greenwitch" shows a kindly, albeit green, old grandmother rather than an untamed featureless product of Wild Magic) the books cull Celtic tradition, English myth, and Gaelic and Welsh influences to produce a series that is so fully original and intelligent that it is all a person can do not to force it into the hands of every fantasy-luvin Harry Potterite. "Greenwitch", the third in the series, brings together characters we've met in separate novels and does so with dexterous skill.

When Simon, Jane, and Barney found the Trewissick Grail in, "Over Sea, Under Stone", they never expected it to disappear so quickly. But disappear it has and from a national museum no less. Of course, without the lead case that translates the words on the Grail, the object in and of itself is of little use. Now their great-uncle Merriman has decided to take them back to Trewissick in search of the item, and with them comes a new addition. Young Will Stanton appears to the other kids to be a likable but slightly stupid young addition to their crew. Unbeknownst of them, of course, he's an Old One like Merriman and has powers far beyond their understanding. Together, these stalwart five will do battle with an emissary of the Dark, utter prophecies, and meet representatives of the Wild Magic. And none are quite so wild as the impressive Greenwitch herself.

When I was a kid there was nothing I hated more than to read the first book in a series (such as "The Wizard of Oz") then move on to the second book and find that characters I loved in the first (like Dorothy) were nowhere to be seen. Yet I didn't really dislike this fact when it came to "The Dark Is Rising". In the first book "Over Sea, Under Stone" we meet the Drew children, Simon, Jane, and Barney. We also meet their mysterious great-uncle Merriman. In the second book "The Dark Is Rising" the Drews are nowhere to be seen but Merriman's back and so is our hero Will Stanton. So when all four kids meet up in "Greenwitch" it feels especially satisfying. Like you're in for the extra special treat of watching the normal children (who take an instant disliking to Will) interact with a fellow who is without age. I particularly loved the moments when it was clear that Will was a kind of superhero at times. Jane's the only one who picks up on this at the beginning, but Simon and Barney definitely have it knocked into their skulls by the end. Interestingly, the book mostly takes the point of view of the Drews. In "The Dark Is Rising" we were privy to Will's thoughts and feelings. Now he's become almost as withdrawn and mysterious as Merriman, closing out not only the other kids but the readers as well.

One thing that Cooper does in the books (and this is the same objection I had to the end of fellow fabulous Celtic fantasy novel "The Hounds of the Morrigan") is that the good guys (i.e. The Light) are able to make the children forget things. So when Jane asks Merriman if he has "magicked" her brothers to sleep and he replies, "Nothing has been done to any of you, or will be", he's not being completely honest. Something has been done to the kids. They've been told to forget something earlier in the book that would have disturbed them. It seems an odd thing to happen to our heroes. After all, what good are allies if you keep on messing about with their memories? Or are they trying to preserve some odd notion of childhood innocence? Whatever the case, I could do without it. Cooper also has never quite grasped the importance of humor. Unlike Lloyd Alexander's, "Prydain Chronicles" (or "Harry Potter" for that matter) she uses it scantily at best. Her other books (like the lovely "Boggart" duo) are a little better, but definitely don't expect "Greenwitch" to be some kind of laugh riot. We're looking at vast prophecies and the potential end of the world here, people. No giggling please.

Aside from that, the book is incredibly readable. Of course, if the child you hand it to hasn't read the first two books, it might still grab their attention. Just not as closely. And Cooper has a fondness for description that definitely turned me off as a child (I would skim for pages and pages until I reach an island of dialogue, thereby completely missing 75% of the plot). So get ready for some well-written if wordy descriptions in this puppy as well. It makes for a fine addition to the series and a fine read too.

Average customer rating:

Over sea, under stone
over sea, under stone
Grate adventure!
Wonderful classic of children's fantasy literature
A compelling start to the series

Over Sea, Under Stone
Susan Cooper
Manufacturer: Harcourt Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Greenwitch (The Dark Is Rising Sequence)
The Dark Is Rising (The Dark Is Rising Sequence)
Silver On The Tree
The Grey King (The Dark Is Rising Sequence)
The Book of Three (The Chronicles of Prydain)

ASIN: 015259034X

Book Description

Three English children find clues to an ancient treasure linked to King Arthur and suddenly find themselves in deadly danger, pursued by forces of ancient evil. “A wonderfully well-told story.”--The Horn Book

Customer Reviews:

Over sea, under stone.......2007-06-14

StephenLee Tucker 6-14-07
Over sea, under stone by Susan Cooper

"Where is he?"
Barney hopped from one foot to the other as he clambered down from the train, peering in rain through the white faced crowds flooding eagerly to the St. Austell ticket barrier.

The setting is modern day and passed. The main characters are uncle Merry, Barney, Simon, and Jane. The story say it a little of all seasons. The problem in this book is that uncle merry and the kids have to help the old ones which uncle merry is one of them, to stop the dark from rising over the earth. The problem is solved by get thing that help both side to help or destroy the earth. I this book they're getting a treasure linked with King Arthur.

My favorite parts are when the three drew children are on a holiday, they stay in the gray house and they find an old map to the treasure linked with King Arthur. The dark is trying to find the treasure to but they're on a yacht. The treasure only can be gotten when the tide is out.

It is also fair time down by the beach for the town. The treasure is linked with Kind Arthur and this linked to the next book vary well. Read to find out what the treasure is.

over sea, under stone .......2006-11-08

This book is about people who three childern discover a anciant map in a house that has something speacial in it. But they had to fight evil as they call the dark. When they search for it there selves they put on their very lives in peril. But over all the vampire lives over the sea and under the stone when the moon comes out. simon had been sitting making darts out of the morning news paper.All of the derws hated the rain so when it rained they all stayed inside there house. When it was done raining the derws went outside and because they liked the fershness All of the derw famliy stayed in a cabin. They all new when exacley when it was time to wake up.

Grate adventure!.......2006-05-28

I began this series in the wrong order as I read the dark is rising first. I then formed a theory which I was anxious to see fulfilled. So I began over sea under stone.
It doesn't have much in common with the dark is rising which is a fantasy novel of the first order!
Over sea under stone is an adventure story reminiscent of old children's adventure stories complete with Cornish beaches, secret caves, mysterious people up to no good and three children caught at the heart of it. The only difference is it's much better written. Kids will love it, and so will nostalgic adults.
The audio book is wonderfully read by Alex Jennings.

Wonderful classic of children's fantasy literature.......2006-02-01

It doesn't matter that this book was written 30 years ago, it easily withstands the test of time. It's actually superior to so much of the children's literature that's being put out these days.

The writing harkens back to a time when children were expected to have a much higher reading ability at a far younger age than they're allowed to get away with today. This book doesn't talk down to its audience whether it be child or adult, it doesn't dumb down the vocabulary or spend pages repetitively going over plot details; it's fast paced and presumes that whomever is reading it has at least a passing knowledge of Arthurian legend and Grail mythology, which any child of two or three decades ago probably would have.

This is a great adventure book, a classic story of good vs. evil set in relatively modern day England. Three children, Simon, Jane, and Barney, find an ancient map hidden away in the old house their great-uncle is renting for their family over the summer, and with that discovery they're plunged into a quest and a conflict, both straight out of legend.

It's a great deal to drop onto such young shoulders, but they're well equipped for it. Between the three of them they have all the skills they need to find the answers to age-old riddles and escape their evil pursuers. Not that the latter is always easy, and there's a great build up in tension a few times when you aren't really sure that they will get away.

Not all questions are answered at the end of the book and the ending itself isn't a complete wrap up of the story, but it fits well with the rest of the story, and with reality. Sometimes you just don't know who the other side really is and you do have to settle for half a prize rather than none. It's not at all annoying or frustrating here, it just feels...right. Besides, the Merlin reference at the end really made for a wonderful ending. So appropriate.

This is high quality adventure and suspense, the real world colliding with a magical one in a way that's far different from _Harry Potter_, and in some ways better than the HP series entirely. Children's literature just isn't written this way anymore, which is a real shame.

A compelling start to the series.......2006-01-23

By one of those strange coincidences, I read this book shortly after the new "Ulysses Moore - The Door to Time", and a comparison of the two will reveal many similarities. This story was copyrighted by Susan Cooper in 1965, and tells the tale of three children who discover an old map in the house where they are vacationing.

Three children (two boys and a girl) begin exploring an old house on the coast of England, and find a hidden door behind a wardrobe. Later they come across an ancient map, and find themselves in a great and dangerous adventure solving the cryptic clues on the way to locating the hidden treasure. This plot summary can be used for either book.

"Over Sea, Under Stone" however, is a much more entertaining read, as the treasure is a grail from the legend of King Arthur, and there are forces of Light and Dark battling for possession. The children face many physical challenges on their quest, and soon discover that some of their acquaintances cannot be trusted.

With their Great-Uncle Merry as their confidante and guardian angel, the three siblings experience the adventure of a lifetime, one I strongly recommend for ages 9-12, and the young at heart.

Amanda Richards, January 22, 2006

Average customer rating:

silver on the tree
A wonderful slice of imagination.
Silver on the Tree, ages 9-11 or 11-14?
Cooper ends the series on a high note
Six together `gainst the Dark

Silver On The Tree
Susan Cooper
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Grey King (The Dark Is Rising Sequence)
Greenwitch (The Dark Is Rising Sequence)
Over Sea, Under Stone (The Dark Is Rising Sequence)
The Dark Is Rising (The Dark Is Rising Sequence)
The High King (The Chronicles of Prydain)

ASIN: 0689840330

Book Description

The Dark is rising in its last and greatest bid to control the world. And Will Stanton -- last-born of the immortal Old Ones, dedicated to keeping the world free -- must join forces with this ageless master Merriman and Bran, the Welsh boy whose destiny ties him to the Light. Drawn in with them are the three Drew children, who are mortal, but have their own vital part in the story. These six fight fear and death in the darkly brooding Welsh hills, in a quest through time and space that touches the most ancient myths of the British Isles, and that brings Susan Cooper's masterful sequence of novels to a satysfying close.

Customer Reviews:

silver on the tree.......2006-10-16

For the last time, the Dark will attempt to rise once again. But Will and his friends of the Light will be there to stop it. This book is the ending to an ancient rivalry between the Light and the Dark. For centuries the Old Ones, a group of magical beings, have been preventing the Dark from rising since the beginning of time. I suggest this to people who like books with mystery and magic and magic because this book is full of it. Susan Cooper's series are suspenseful and exciting; you'll always be back for more. When you read this book you'll find out how badly Will and the Light need to defeat the Dark and stop it from rising this one last time.

A wonderful slice of imagination........2006-07-31

This is the magical conclusion to an equally magical series of books. Susan Cooper's seamless mix of timeless legend, wonderful imagination and beautiful use of language, make it difficult to find many to equal her.
Silver On The Tree is a coming together of the prophecies that we've been hearing tantalising titbits from all through the series, and a culminating of the quest of Will Stanton, last of the old ones and his immortal master Meriman, Bran Davis, the welsh boy with an extraordinary destiny, and the three Drew Children, ordinary kids with a knack for being in the thick of things.
This story takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride through time, space and other worlds, with a climax that has you quite literally on the edge of your seat.
There are some extremely moving scenes, and I for one was very sad at the end. What, I cry plaintively, will become of Will?
There now, I hope that wet your apatite.
Just to complete your satisfaction, I can confirm for fans of the audio books that Alex Jennings reads the last book in the series, as he did with nearly all the others, and his high quality narration makes for a delightful listening experience.

Silver on the Tree, ages 9-11 or 11-14?.......2006-05-01

Silver on the Tree, written by Susan Cooper, has a wonderful amount of description to it.
Although I enjoyed some of the books from the series, I must say that many others from the series seemed to have no value to read. My class of 21 students read this, and only about 2 people out of this class actually enjoyed this book. I myself can say I would not rate this book as 9-12, but 11-14 due to the way susan cooper will carry away from the excitement of the story with the description.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed these books, and hope to see more of the age group I think is appropriate will read it.

Cooper ends the series on a high note.......2006-02-26

Ending a series well is not an easy task, but Susan Cooper pulls it off brilliantly in Silver on the Tree. This book is far longer than any of the others in the series, which is a big plus. She maintains the same excellent style of writing she showed in the first four books in the series. Pretty much, if you liked the other books in the series you will like this one. It is especially similar to the Grey King, but perhaps not quite as good. The ending to this book was somewhat depressing, but I won't spoil it. Suffice to say that it is bittersweet at best.

Overall grade: A

Six together `gainst the Dark.......2006-02-02

Six together `gainst the Dark
where a mighty tree grows tall
If one of them fulfills his role
The Dark will finally fall

Together for the cause at hand
Stand Barney, Will and Bran.
Simon, Jane and Merriman
Round out the little Clan

The Old Ones gather, `cept for one
They need the Lady's power
Jane receives the vital clues
To lead them to the Tower

The Dark is present all the way
To try to stop the quest
White bones crumble `neath a bow
The nightmare's put to rest

The wheel is stopped, the King is found
The sword exchanges hands
The Sleepers ride, the signs burn bright
With light of the Lost Land's

The final battle is a thrill
Pendragon, and his prize
But all good things come to an end
So wipe your streaming eyes

This is the fifth and final book
Of this enchanting story
We thank the Author for her work
She deserves all her glory

Amanda Richards, February 1, 2006

Average customer rating:

The Boggart
Definitely Not Exciting
Invisable Ghost
Great Book!
Ghosts and Spirts

The Boggart
Susan Cooper
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

Qualifying Textbooks - Spring 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Boggart and the Monster
King of Shadows
Never Mind! : A Twin Novel (Twin Novels)
Green Boy
Anne Frank: Life in Hiding

ASIN: 1416905278

Book Description

<CENTER>Centuries old and housands of miles from home</CENTER>

When Emily and Jess Volnik's family inherits a remote, crumbling Scottish

castle, they also inherit the Boggart -- an invisible, mischievous spirit who's been playing tricks on residents of Castle Keep for generations. Then the Boggart is trapped in a rolltop desk and inadvertently shipped to the Volniks' home in Toronto, where nothing will ever be the same -- for the Volniks or the Boggart.

In a world that doesn't believe in magic, the Boggart's pranks wreak havoc. And even the newfound joys of peanut butter and pizza and fudge sauce eventually wear thin for the Boggart. He wants to go home -- but his only hope lies in a risky and daring blend of modern technology and ancient magic.

Download Description

When Emily and Jess Volnik's family inherits a remote, crumbling Scottish castle, they also inherit the Boggart -- an invisible, mischievious spirit who's been playing tricks on residents of Castle Keep for generations. Then the Boggart is trapped in a rolltop desk and inadvertently shipped to the Volnik's home in Toronto, where nothing will ever be the same -- for the Volniks or the Boggart. In a world that doesn't believe in magic, the Boggart's pranks wreak havoc, particularly for Emily, who is accused of causing psychic disturbances. And even the newfound joys of peanut butter and pizza and fudge sauce eventually wear thin for the Boggart. He wants to go home -- but his only hope lies in a risky and daring blend of modern technology and ancient magic.

Customer Reviews:

The Boggart.......2007-02-15

The Boggart is a good book for people who like mythical ceatures and people who like to laugh. I think the Boggart (protagonist) is kind of ceature who just wants to have fun but doesn't understand the rules of his new home. The antagonist isn't a who, but a place.i think that the antagonist is Caslte Keep because it gets the Boggart sad and changes the way he thinks. The Boggart is a book that has adventure. It's funny, scary, and sad all at once. I thinl it's a book that will make you stay up all night to find out what happens next!

Definitely Not Exciting.......2006-12-21

I guess I expected to see a smaller quantity of flat humor throughout my reading of The Boggart. Sure, there are a few laughs, but most of the content intended to be comical falls through and leaves the reader with only a feeling of emptiness. Add to that an awful comment comparing a somewhat pushy psychologist to the genocidal maniac Hitler, and it becomes painfully obvious that this isn't Mrs. Cooper's best material. Maybe she was trying to meet a writing deadline or something, I don't know.

All that being said, the main points of this book could be summarized in a few sentences. The Boggart is an invisible mischief maker who lives in Scotland. He inhabits a castle that's being left to a Canadian family after the death of the owner. The family can't stay in the castle, so they just take some of its furniture. The Boggart gets trapped in a desk and is transported to the family's modern home in Canada. He causes mischief there, until he gets homesick. Then he goes into the (very dated) computer, and crams himself into a floppy disk (See??...very dated) and the kids of the family mail the disk to Scotland where the castle's next door neighbor downloads the Boggart back into his old home.

I guess the Boggart's love of mischief is supposed to be the funniest thing in the whole darn world, but I found his antics to be just a shade below the first half of a Home Alone movie on the comedy scale.

While the Boggart is causing mischief in the Canadian family's home, a psychologist butts in and claims the flying chairs the Boggart is throwing around are simply effects from an ESP condition possessed by one of the kids. I guess the pushy implication of such a thing ranks right up there with killing three million people. Bad, bad, bad.

Invisable Ghost .......2006-11-18

The Boggart is a good book about this spirit named Boggart that likes to play tricks on alot of people. Emily always notices when the Boggart is ner by. She has seen floating things! I don't like when Emily comes out of the ice cream store and gets hit by a car. I also don't like when the Boggart controlled the cat. In this book the Boggart plays lots of trick and you to can learn them if you read this book. I would recomend this book to any one who can read, and i hope you read this book

Great Book!.......2006-11-18

I think this book is very interesting! Emily,Jessup and their family go to Scotland. They are going to visit Castle Keep. The castle belonged to one of their relatives. After the family returned back to Canada they brought a desk containing the boggart. When they got home many strange things happened. If you want to know who the boggart is you will have to read this book. I would recommed this book to kids who like interesting and exciting stories!

Ghosts and Spirts.......2006-11-18

The Boggart is a mysteris book.Some characters in this book are Emily, Jessup,and the Boggart. Emily is Jessup's sister and she is emotional, responsibly, and trustworthy. Jessup is nerdy, smart, and intelligent. The Boggart is an ivisible ghost type spirt thingy. He likes to play jokes on people. In this story some werid things have happened. Emily always sees floating thing like a pizza and the stuff in the woodworking room. Also for Halloween people dressed up in customs and the Boggart played tricks on them. To find out how he does these tricks read this book. I would recomend this book to ages 8-12.

Average customer rating:

5 Out Of 5 Stars for VICTORY
Another Victory
HMS VICTORY
A victory for Cooper
V for Victory

Victory
Susan Cooper
Manufacturer: Margaret K. McElderry
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Bread and Roses, Too
Hattie Big Sky
Yellow Star
Bella at Midnight
The Loud Silence of Francine Green

ASIN: 1416914773

Book Description

<big><center>
Two Children,
Two Struggles,
One Battle...

</center></big>

One child is Sam Robbins, a powder monkey aboard HMS Victory, the ship in which Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson will die a hero's death at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The other is Molly Jennings, an English girl transplanted from London to the United States in 2006, fighting a battle of her own against loss and loneliness.

This extraordinary time-shifting adventure tells the interwoven stories of Sam and Molly, linked by a mystery. Sam is a farm boy, kidnapped at eleven years old by the "press gang" to serve in the Royal Navy. At first terrified and seasick, Sam is transformed gradually into a sailor. In the rowdy, dangerous world of a hundred-gun warship enduring the Napoleonic Wars, he meets both cruelty and kindness, and survives a fearsome battle whose echoes reach through the years to involve Molly as well. Like Sam, Molly has lost her childhood but will find her future, with help from a very unexpected source.

Separate yet together, Sam Robbins and Molly Jennings struggle through fear and excitement to a final ordeal that terrifyingly tests their courage. And the moving climax of the book shows two lives joined forever by the touch of Nelson, one of the greatest sailors of all time.

Customer Reviews:

5 Out Of 5 Stars for VICTORY.......2007-05-30

In 1805 a young boy Sam and his uncle are pressed into the British navy. Meanwhile A girl named Molly moved to America from England because her father died and her mom fell in love with an American. One day Molly goes into a bookshop and buys a book with a piece of Sam's ship called HMS Victory and signed by is granddaughter. Sam's life is described very well and is very detailed and you always know what is going on. Molly's life is very dramatic and really draws the reader in. Toward the end Sam's story gets gory and if you don't like that kind of stuff you won't like that part. This book was so good I couldn't stop reading it.
This book was the perfect mix of history and modern day mysteriousness.

Jordan.

Another Victory.......2006-12-05

Suffering from severe homesickness for her former civilized life in London, eleven-year-old Molly Jennings is deeply unhappy. She has been transplanted to Connecticut into a new life and family by her mother's marriage. Forced into a sail with her stepfather and stepbrother, Molly is accidently knocked into the sea. Her terror, before she is pulled to safety, is so profound that it seems to set into play strange, psychic connections with a young British sailor from the past, Sam Robbins. Having been kidnapped into service in the Royal Navy, Sam ends up serving loyally on the HMS Victory with Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar.

The seemingly unrelated stories of present-day Molly and early nineteenth-century Sam are told in alternating episodes. The connection between the two is masterfully. gradually revealed. The excitng past infringes on Molly's present until it culminates in a frightning denoument aboard HMS
Victory, now a marine museum. The ending, which ties up the complex threads of the story with astute perceptions of history, is totally satisfying. Another victory for its author.

HMS VICTORY.......2006-11-22

Victory by Susan Cooper is a tale of time. When two people are join together from different times. United by one person and a cloth both people come together. Both feel the same way as each other. Sam Robbins is a boy who's family was poor. He joins his uncle but is then press into the navy. Molly Jennings a girl who

A victory for Cooper.......2006-09-26

Sam Robbins is an 11-year-old ship's boy, forced from his home in England when he and his uncle are pressed into service in His Majesty's Navy in 1803. Sara Jennings is an 11-year-old girl, forced from her home in England when her mother remarries and moves the family to Connecticut in 2006.

Years and miles apart, the two youngsters share a bond, woven into the cloth of a tiny fragment from the flag that once flew over HMS Victory, the flagship of Admiral Lord Nelson at Trafalgar. The two children's lives couldn't be more different, yet author Susan Cooper weaves them together with the expert touch of a seasoned writer, best known for her landmark "The Dark is Rising" series. Cooper's research is impeccable; although Sara is an entirely fictional creation and Sam was nothing more than a name on a ship's register, Cooper has turned them into real, three-dimensional characters who feel, and consequently make readers feel, too.

Cooper's work is always readable and entertaining. Seasoning her story heavily with history from the exciting days of Nelson's Navy, there's enough detail about life aboard a naval flagship to make readers feel the wood beneath their feet, hear the wind in the rigging and knock their bread against the table, for fear of weevils. The juxtapositioning of Sam's and Sara's narratives -- Sam's in first-person past, Sara's in third-person present -- is completely natural, flowing easily across centuries as their stories unfold.

Written for young-adult readers, adults will find themselves equally captivated by this delightful novel.

by Tom Knapp, Rambles.NET editor

V for Victory.......2006-07-24

Certain authors publish with an aura of definite mystique. Lloyd Alexander, for one, can still elicit a certain thrill when his books sit on a shelf. Ditto Philip Pullman. But of all these fellows, not a one of them can hold a candle to the majesty and plum good writing of Ms. Susan Cooper. Her "The Dark Is Rising" sequence is still the go to series when it comes to Celtic myth and Arthurian legend. It was with great shock that I discovered a couple years ago that not only had she written comic pieces (as with "The Boggart") and time travel ("King of Shadows") but that she was STILL WRITING. Somehow I'd assumed "The Dark Is Rising" books were written decades ago solely for my own enjoyment and that the author had long since passed on to another world. Hardly. It is fortunate indeed that "Victory" proves how wrong I was. Not quite a time travel book, but not quite realistic fiction either, this latest Cooper saga follows two children, inexplicably tied to one another. And while it's not the author's finest work, there's no denying the fine fabulous writing that has gone into it.

Molly's world has fallen totally and irreparably apart. A logical girl, she understands why she and her family have moved from London, England to Connecticut. She knows that her new stepfather and stepbrother are fine fellows and that her house and room are bigger and more beautiful than anything she's ever had before. She knows this. However, Molly is so homesick for England that she'll hold on to anything that might tie her to it as if it were a lifeline. When a book of the life of Lord Nelson falls into her possession, Molly starts finding herself connected to the life of a boy who lived hundreds of years before her own. Sam Robbins was, during the time of the Napoleonic wars, pressed into serving on Horatio Nelson's ship. Once he is on The Victory, Sam finds himself both horrified and awed by his experience as one of the crew's powder monkeys. Told in alternating chapters, the book charts Molly's journey back to her former home to visit The Victory today, and Sam's journey over the seas on the boat he would soon regard as his own.

Because the book is shifting continually between the present and the past, Cooper sometimes writes herself into an interesting predicament. On the one hand you have Molly, who's misery is palpable. Cleverly, Cooper allows the reader to feel the child's homesickness and sheer unhappiness just as if it were their own. We are utterly sympathetic. At the same time, though, Cooper has coupled this tale alongside Sam's story. There is a moment in the book where Sam has just been forced to wear an iron bar in his mouth for three days as punishment for something he mistakenly did. He cannot eat or drink or sleep and the bar cuts painfully into his skin, drawing blood. The chapter ends after the bolt is removed and suddenly we're back with Molly who's problems, let's face it, shrivel up and dry in the face of Sam's agony. As I read the book I wondered if Cooper was aware that the reader might not sympathize with Molly as keenly once they'd been introduced to Sam's torturous situation. I needn't have feared. I suspect that Cooper knew exactly what she was doing when she paired Sam's tale with that of Molly's because at that moment the reader starts to feel that the Molly dilemma can only be solved if she herself understands how small her problems really are. The climax comes when Molly does realize this in an almost violent but necessary fashion.

A co-worker of mine started reading the book, but stopped when she found it dull. I was fascinated by this reaction, especially since I've been wondering how kids would react to this story. Would they be bored? Thrilled? I think Molly's contemporary tale is definitely necessary. I suppose the first image of the funeral march for Lord Nelson might be a bit slow as beginnings go, but once Molly is thrown head over heels into the ocean as her step-brother and step-father sail, the tale definitely picks up. Of course, it's filled to brimming with ship terms. And there's quite a lot of discussion of how the ship is laid out. Interestingly enough I kept suddenly envisioning the layout of the ships found in "The Pirates of the Caribbean" movies. I suspect that if you wanted to make a reader reluctant to pick up this story, just explain to them that there are ship fights similar to those in the "Pirates" movies. I can't guarantee that that would work, but it's certainly worth a shot.

But you know, it's just all about the writing, isn't it? The little moments that separate the good books from the so-so ones. Cooper has a couple of those up her sleeve. One of the story's more touching details is the fact that Molly adores her new little baby step-brother, Donald. At one point the family is on the Tube in London and Donald is alarmed by the loud noises. Molly plays peek-a-boo with him to cheer him up. "All the surrounding grownups watch, with nostalgia soft in their faces, except one thin man in a tight dark suit, who retreats behind a newspaper with a disdainful sniff". I could never tell you why, but that's one of my favorite moments in the book. Cooper's writing never lightens the story's tough situations, by the way. Sam is pressed into service with the Navy against his will and the ship situation is gritty, gory, and thoroughly unpleasant. Just the same, you get a hint of why Sam felt that it should become his life's work, no matter what.

Boy, I sure hope that a huge swath of kids today are Anglophiles. Between "Endymion Spring" trying to convince them that Oxford is a hip youth hang-out and Ms. Cooper giving us a hearty heaping of Lord Nelson facts, the time has never been better to be enamored of all things English. With it's almost too tasteful cover and whopping great amounts of historical fiction ah-flowing through its gills, "Victory" is probably not going to be the first book the kids pick up when they walk into a library or bookstore. For those with a penchant for both history and realism, however, they may well find much to love here. Enjoyable indeed.

Authors:

Authors

Authors