For my second book review, I’d like to introduce The Dark is Rising, the second book in a
cycle of five books about an often-metaphorical battle between Dark and Light
set in Britain. I’m choosing to review The
Dark is Rising rather than the first book, Over Sea, Under Stone, because this one can be read on its own
without reading OSUS and because (in my opinion) it’s a better book.
Title: The Dark
is Rising
Author: Susan
Cooper
Page Count: 244
pages
Stars: 4 of 5
(Newberry Honor Book)
• 4 =
well-written and a good read
Teaser: On the
Midwinter Day that is his eleventh birthday, Will Stanton discovers a special
gift—the he is the last of the Old Ones, immortals dedicated to keeping the
world from domination by the forces of evil, the Dark. At once, he is plunged
into a quest for the six magical Signs that will one day aid the Old Ones in
the final battle between the Dark and the Light. And for the twelve days of
Christmas, while the Dark is rising, life for Will is full of wonder, terror,
and delight.
Age level: Teen
and up (13+)
Violence: 3 of 5
• 3 =
somewhat more intense violence that plays a major role in the story
Romance: 0 of 5
• 0 =
none
Language: 0 of 5
• 0 =
none
Christian worldview:
This book has elements that we as Christians can relate to—being engaged in an
epic battle between light and darkness, for example. However, there are also a
lot of elements of Celtic myths and Arthurian legend woven through the story
(which is why I don’t find this book appropriate for preteens, despite low
levels of violence and romance). Magic is an important element in the book as
well.
My thoughts: The
beautiful language and imagery of The Dark is Rising really grabbed my
attention (almost) from the beginning. It’s extremely well-written, and the
analogies and images of light and darkness are beautifully drawn.
I must confess I don’t care for the first chapter or so,
because the action was slow to start. Also, there was not very much character
development of Will. There was no great sacrifice involved for him. The
storyline, too, was somewhat predictable. So although I said above that this
book is appropriate for teens and up, I think it’s especially suited to younger
teens or those who don’t mind a slightly predictable story.
So, in conclusion, this is a beautiful book that is
extremely well-written stylistically but is somewhat lacking in the Christian
worldview and character development departments. If you like reading books
about England or old English myths, then you may enjoy The Dark is Rising.
*Note: this book has also been made into the move The Seeker, which, according to most reviews, is one of the worst movies ever. Don't bother watching it! If anything, read the book.
