There is a special bond that forms between people when they learn that they love the same book. Suddenly, a world that means so much to you is understood and appreciated by someone else. The shared experience can be thrilling, as you compare notes on pet theories, favorite characters, potential plot holes, and alternate endings. Growing up, I shared the realm of Redwall with a dear friend in my homeschool group, and we spent countless hours chatting about hares and memorizing Abbey poems, occasionally yelling “Eulelia!” (a battle cry). One summer, I spent several weeks racing the boy who lived next door, also a voracious reader, through Susan Cooper’s The Dark Is Rising series, with a dreadful disregard for nuance but an immense joy in the tale.
Initially set in modern-day England, The Dark Is Rising books weave together Arthurian legends and folklore, which eventually take readers to different eras and lands. This five-book set begins with Over Sea, Under Stone, a straightforward adventure tale about three mortal children and their mysterious great-uncle, Merriman Lyon. A combination of curiosity and determination set the Drew children — Simon, Jane, and Barney — on a quest for an ancient grail. Racing against time, nature, and a deceiving group of enemies, our heroes must work together to solve an ancient riddle before the Dark discovers their mission.
Comments