Silver on the Tree (The Dark is Rising #5) by Susan Cooper

The strong ending saved me from abandoning this one as the plot felt like a dandelion gone to seed. Cooper tried to do too much and as a result the focus got lost several times. The three Drews along with Bran and Will must collect the Things of Power to drive the Dark away because it wants to control the earth by instilling fear and hatred in men. Will and Bran get the sword and the three Drews along with Merriman must meet at a special place to stop the Dark in a climatic battle.

The beginning has too much time travel that isn't grounded enough in the present. The different periods and strange overlapping of the past with the present was weird. I found it too confusing and distanced me from getting involved in the action. Then when something did happen to someone I wasn't sure if it happened in the past or present. It's the past. I did finally catch on. The shift in time and place had a jarring effect in the beginning. Funny, how it didn't bother me in the other books, but I think that's because Cooper spent more time with the characters in the present before slipping into the past. This felt like a breathless headlong race to cram as much information as possible in the book and the shifts were happening too quickly.

There is not much suspense or mystery in this novel. The poem states the quest and from the previous books it is known that the heroes will figure it out. The way the riddle-poem plays out is not predictable but I wasn't invested in the characters much; again I felt distanced from the plot. Perhaps there were too many characters and no depth could be achieved through one point of view. Or I'm tired from finishing my first full week working at school and teaching oodles of classes. Whatever the reason, this is what happened to me in the first book.

Rowlands was the character with the moral dilemma at the end and I found myself interested in the story at that point. Cooper shows how the human race can choose good or evil. It is each individual's free will to live as he or she chooses. This is reinforced with the theme of the senselessness of wars over the years. She shows the past Anglo-Welsh civil wars that killed so many people and were such a waste seeing that future people like Barney's ancestry comes from both sides. The scene where the bully is picking on an indian boy shows how these same prejudices are carried on from one generation to the next in a senseless, narrow-minded manner. While some gets a bit didactic I did like her message. Merriman at the end is particularly preachy as he exits on a note of warning.

Bran has an interesting twist as well at the end, but I never really got into his story. I liked the link between his mother and Wild Magic. She's described as a loose cannon and it fits. Cooper said she had Bran make his choice because she wanted to show that this is made by individuals. If he had chosen to go in the ship he would have been like martyr or Christlike figure which didn't reinforce the theme of choice. The theme of betrayal is linked through all the books and Will being isolated as an Old One as others memories are conveniently erased is also continued in this one. While I enjoyed the series, I'm glad to be done. On to the next stack of books.

3 Smileys

The Grey King (The Dark is Rising #4) by Susan Cooper

Susan Cooper is a terrific writer and I find it interesting how fantasy books have evolved since the 1970's when this series was published. While her books come across as too simple and childlike for older reviewers, they are an excellent study of world building in the fantasy genre, creating magical systems, characters with a quest, having an older mentor for the young heroes, a Dark Lord, and the struggle between good and evil. Granted it isn't as complex as much of the high fantasy available today, but it is accessible for young readers and is an engaging series.

Will has been sick with hepatitis and is recovering at his aunt's farm in the mountains. He must wake the Sleepers, who are like the Knights from the Round Table, in order to battle the Dark in a climatic end between good and evil. Will must find the gold harp (and no he doesn't climb a beanstalk) and gets help from his albino friend, Bran. Their friendship is forged through adventures and loneliness and the two can count on each other even after they have an argument. The twist regarding Bran's ancestry was a plot highlight.

Will isn't developed as a character much, but is more like an Old One than a young boy which makes him somewhat distant. He is focused on the quest and has compassion and understanding beyond his years when dealing with others. Merriman is absent for the most part and Will does this quest solo. John Rowlands plays the part of the wise mentor versus Merriman and there is an interesting conversation between him and Will regarding the fanaticism of following good or evil. John reminds Will to not forget his humanity and it is a good reminder that fanaticism for good can actually be evil. Just think of terrorists who are fanatical in their belief that murdering people is for "good."

The explanations of Welsh language and culture reminded me of living overseas. Will catches on quickly to the language and it is obvious the author is fluent in Welsh. Susan Cooper grew up in Europe and moved to America and she said her homesickness fueled writing these books. The setting is her grandparents farm and the details Cooper uses make the mountains and lake easy to picture in one's imagination. 

I preferred "The Dark is Rising" moreso than "The Grey King" because  I was more engaged with Will's internal journey and the amalgamation of myth and mythologies from all over the world that didn't focus on one myth, but blurred them into this odd, delightful mix that was unique in and of itself. "The Dark is Rising" (book 2) also reminded me of "A Country Doctor" by Franz Kafka. Not the content so much as the creation of a dreamlike state that connects with reality. Kafka's language is more fragmented but the ghostly horses, recurring motif of the Hunt, and the way the sentences gallop had me comparing imagery to "The Dark is Rising."  Books "speak" differently to different people and at different times in life. "The Grey King" is more traditional following the monomyth or hero's journey. I found that I could predict too much of the plot in "The Grey King" and it sapped the tension out of some action scenes. I also thought the ending was abrupt. It's setting up for the sequel, but it seemed too sudden. I think young readers will like this story the best out of the five books in the series because of the straightforward adventure and quest.

The good and evil in this series books is black and white making it more childlike and less complex than fantasy stories being produced today. There is no exploration of the gray areas with complex villains. Mr. Prichard is the closest we come to seeing a man who has chosen ill-will toward others and nurses his internal anger toward those he feels have wronged him to the point that it is like a sickness rotting his soul. The simplicity makes it good for young readers because it is less scary; however, it does take out quite a bit of tension. When Will is on his quest you know that he will be successful and the answers will just come to him. Some reviewers complain this makes the plot artificial but it also makes it less frightening because of a built-in safety cushion. While I am enjoying these books, my adult side wants them more fleshed out and complex. I can understand those that love the series and those that don't. You decide. They are definitely well-written and worth a try.

4 Smileys

Greenwitch (The Dark is Rising #3) by Susan Cooper

This book returns to Cornwall where Simon, Jane, and Barney are trying to recover the grail that has been stolen from the British Museum. Will has joined the group at the request of Merriman as the Dark tries to retrieve the manuscript linked to the grail and lost at sea in the first book. Some might find the start a bit slow if they don't get into the ritual of the Greenwitch, but afterwards there is a good ghost story and plenty of action. I did think the character development was better in this one than the first book and I was able to get lost in the fantasy world. The point of view is mostly Jane's and she is fleshed out more as an interesting character. She has a prominent role in defeating the Dark, as it is her compassion that touches the wild nature of the Greenwitch and compels her to willingly give up her secret.  This twist on what you wish for if you had any wish in the world would make for good discussions and reminded me of djinn stories.

Like its predecessors, this tale incorporates many literary and mythological elements that have no roots in one particular myth. The Greenwitch is created of leaves and branches by the womenfolk before being  cast into the sea as an offering to the sea goddess by the townspeople. The folktale is that Greenwitch is the daughter of Tethys, a Greek sea goddess, but the villagers call her "King Mark's Bride" which is a from Arthurian legend. In my mind, I imagined Greenwitch as a sea nymph but I'm more familiar with Greek mythology than Kind Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Greenwitch is a part of Wild magic that is neither a part of the Light or Dark. Wild magic was introduced in "The Dark is Rising" when the Wild Hunt happened at the end and the Dark was dispersed all over the earth.

The three Drew kids grow up some in this story. Simon is not happy about Will coming to Cornwall because he's jealous that Merriman asked Will to come and he wants to be the most important person in Merriman and his siblings lives. By the end he isn't so snarky with Will. Jane is developed more as someone who notices details about people and thinks about others feelings versus her own. She becomes less self-centered and more mature when dealing with others feelings and the fantastical world of Merriman and Will. She is much more developed and interesting than in the first novel. Barney begins to embrace that he has an artistic talent. He has "always expressed horror at the idea" that he is artistic like his mother, but is willing to sketch landscapes in this story. Will is a supporting character who acts like an adult being patient with Simon. Jane notices, "Simon wanted to quarrel and you wouldn't, she thought. You're like a grown-up sometimes." Jane is the most observant of those around her and notices when the adults and Will are communicating with their minds, even though she doesn't know what they are doing.

While the plot is pretty simple and there are not oodles of myth connections like book 2, I found the character development and adventure engaging enough to keep me glued to the story. I think some will like the ghostliness of the Greenwitch when she invades the village and the phantom ships that come ashore to seek revenge on the man who betrayed them in the past. The theme of betrayal is in every book and shows how hurtful it is when someone turns on another person. This is in contrast to Jane's act of kindness that emphasizes the impact of choices people make in their lives that are either good or bad. A terrific fantasy series.

4 Smileys

The Dark is Rising (The Dark is Rising #2) by Susan Cooper

Ask any Minnesotan - most will whisper that first winter snowfall is magical as it veils the world in glittering white stillness. Six months later that changes, but hey, it's a dazzling start to the winter marathon. Christmas is special too, as families feast around lighted trees nestled in warm houses. Susan Cooper not only captures the childhood magic of the first snow, Christmas, caroling, and more, but the magical alternate world Will Stanton falls into as he discovers that he is the last of the Old Ones, protectors of the Light that have the power to control time and weather. As an adult this type of writing stirs a certain nostalgia inside me as I slip into Cooper's fantastical world and experience that which was magical as a kid. While some might not like the simplicity of the the character, Will, whose quest is predestined and whose struggles are more external than internal; I found the references to past myths and legends marvelous, enough tension through fear to hold my interest, and the various themes creating a story that was extremely satisfying.

Will Stanton discovers on his eleventh birthday that he is the last born of the Old Ones, immortals with supernatural powers who fight the Dark. The Old Ones are led by Merriman and the Lady who represent the Light and struggle against the Dark Rider who wants the forces of the Dark to take over the world using fear, chaos and deceit. Will must vanquish them by collecting six Signs before the twelve days of Christmas are over when the Dark is most powerful. Will's powers manifest the day before his birthday with animals being afraid of him, a farmer giving him a mysterious iron, and a tramp being attacked by rooks. When he notices his brother forgetting the incident of the tramp in an unnatural way, he knows something is not right with the world. That night a fear comes upon Will that terrifies him: "Something creaked outside the half-open door, and he jumped. Then it creaked again, and he knew what it was: a certain floorboard that often talked to itself at night, with a sound so familiar that usually he never noticed it at all." The word repetition and creepy personified floorboard are a taste of the terrific tension Cooper uses to describe how evil attacks Will by playing on his emotion of fear. Like the ghosts in Scrooge, fear visits Will three times that night that is hide-under-the-covers-fun-scary reading.

Rich in symbolism and allegory this book is an amalgamation of many different classics, legends, folklore, and myths. Narnia came to mind a few times along with Dickens such as in the scene when they go back in time to the Christmas party and dancing. There is no Fezziwig, but there is a Merriman who is like Merlin, a Lady like the Lady of the Lake, Hawkin who's like a leprechaun, the name Mitothin which is another name for Loki, a Ragnarok-type battle between chaos and order or evil and good, Herne the Hunter and Wayland the Smith from folklore. Religious symbolism is also scattered throughout; I even thought of the story of Abraham sacrificing Isaac as similar to Merriman willing to sacrifice Hawkin and Will willing to sacrifice Mary. Even the names of Will's siblings are biblical. This complex weaving of Celtic, Norse mythology along with Arthurian legend and English folklore is marvelous and was one element that was incredibly creative by the author. Cooper's story comes across as a brand new creation story, or potpourri of past storytelling, with no concrete mythical source singled out.

Will gets dropped right into the action and the author slowly peels back the plot. The tension comes from not knowing what is going on and feeling the confusion that Will is going through at the moment. Will's character is not flawed nor does he struggle much recovering the six Signs. His path is predestined by Fate with Merriman providing guidance when possible. I didn't find the tension so much in the quest as the author's intentional technique of omitting facts and focusing on Will's attempt to overcome fear. The descriptive writing and world building in a small village in Buckinghamshire, England, made it easy to envision Will as he time travels decades into the past before shifting back into the present. The surreal time-shifts emphasize that movement as such is not normal. The dreamlike quality adds to the magical elements of the story.

Susan Cooper took classes from J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis at Oxford University in England. The later writes about showing and not telling; that the simple text and focus on action is an obvious marker of children's literature. Perry Nodelman in "The Hidden Adult" elaborates on this: "If, as popular assumptions suggest, children see less and know less than adults, then a text with a childlike focalization - or any text with a child audience - will have less exposition, less detail of all sorts. It's author must, as Lewis said, 'throw all the force of the book into what was done and said.'" Cooper's book was written in 1973 and the influence of Lewis is apparent, as well as, showing common traits in children's literature. I personally prefer more character development, but I was not detracted from story. Adult readers might find this innocent hero somewhat boring. 

Themes of fear, loneliness, and betrayal are emphasized by Will's isolation. He can't talk to any other person about his quest. His siblings react in horror after witnessing his defeats of evil and their minds are "erased" of events so they don't remember. He can't tell anyone the reason for the unnatural weather or characters who have chosen to side with evil. Will discovers that rather than getting the freedom he thinks is the result of taking on adult responsibilities, he has burdens; thus, showing the transformation from childhood innocence into adulthood. His siblings describe him as "an old eleven" and "ageless" and it says, "He was not the same Will Stanton that he had been a very few days before." "This time, his fear was adult, made of experience and imagination and care." As he matures, Will loses his fear of the Dark and makes conscious choices to serve Light that requires sacrifice and alienation; a common hero trope found in high fantasy. His coming-of-age also shows that problems don't go away when children grow up, instead they learn to deal with them in their own unique way.

The character, Hawkin, is the tragic element that chooses evil because he is deceived into thinking he will be rewarded with position. He points the finger at Merriman and does not understand why he would consider sacrificing him for the Light. I did wish it was explained how the Light forced him to serve them along with Maggie's role. Perhaps the next books will shed light on the unexplained plot point. When Hawkin realizes that he has been blaming Merriman for his choice, it is poignant because he has spent so many years in misery and anger, rather than basking in the unconditional love Merriman has offered him all along. This is a good fantasy story for a young reader with high reading skills. I highly recommend it.

5 Smileys
Fountas & Pinnell: X
Reading Level: 7.0

Over Sea, Under Stone (The Dark is Rising #1) by Susan Cooper

I wanted to like this but couldn't sink my teeth into the plot or characters. Jane, Simon, and Barney, go with their parents to Cornwall to visit their Uncle Merry. The three explore the old grey house and discover an ancient map that puts them on the quest for the Holy Grail. The forces of Dark want the map too for its unlimited power and with the help of Uncle Merry it is a mad race to see who can find it first.  The threesome are not sure who is good or bad and their innocent trust oftentimes leads them to dangerous situations. 

Not that the kids know the situations are dangerous. That's one thing I liked about the characters. They are kids with short attention spans who forget about their quest because they are distracted by a carnival or want to lay out in the sun. Their imaginations interfere with their focus at times and it is endearing and also diffuses what might scare some. Others might find it annoying because it slows down the plot and as a reader you might be tearing your hair and shaking the book saying, "What are they thinking? They have to hurry or the bad guys will get there!" 

I found myself more annoyed with the tension technique that comes from the kids or adults misleading the three kids on purpose or people miscommunicating with each other. This was used too many times and it is something I'm biased against. For instance, Jane should be telling Uncle Merry, Simon, and Barney about the vicar and his interest in the map but she doesn't because she doesn't think it is important. She's pretty bright through most of the story so I'm not buying that reasoning. Later, she makes the connection and it is pretty obvious the device was used to move the story forward. This happens again with other characters such as Barney and Mrs. Palk and I found it contrived and boring after awhile. 

The setting has great descriptions and its easy to imagine this village on the harbor. The villains are one dimensional. They represent the Dark and sometimes appear nice and fun to the three kids. This is a good reminder that not everyone can be judged by outward appearances. The parents in the story are oblivious to what is happening with their kids and the quest. I wasn't quite sure why one villain had more power over the flunkies who served him. Perhaps the sequel will explain more of their relationships.

Jane is more stereotypical of a girl raised in the 1970's. She objects to her brother's dirty hands, wants to please those around her, it a bit of a sissy on the adventure having to be carried because she's so afraid, carries a spool of thread in her jacket, and who wants to tell parents about old manuscript. The mother is also presented as the stereotypical flakey artist. I did enjoy the voice of the characters with a Cornish accent, especially how they always said, "midear." 

The plot was predictable and the clues weren't very interesting. The fantasy elements are all there in this book, it just didn't grab my interest. I'm going to read book 2 because it won a Newbery award. Cooper must have nailed it better than this one. I'm sure hoping so!

3 Smileys

Ungifted by Gordon Korman

Middle school students hankering for themes such as rebellion against school rules and authority, burgeoning interest in girls, friendship issues, identity, and growing up will get all that and more in Korman's novel. The writing is well-done along with the character development and humor, but my adult brain wanted the issue of "gifted" tackled even more. Several Goodreads reviewers have pointed out, and rightfully so, that the gifted students in this story are presented as stereotyped nerds with IQ's over 130 and the average students as "normal." This seemed to bother adults more than the 12 middle school students I'm friends with on Goodreads who rated the novel roughly 3.5 out of 5 stars. Perhaps the author did the stereotypes on purpose to emphasize the point that labels limit people whether calling someone, "stupid, gifted, ungifted, class clown, nerd" or whatever other word your cortex spits out. While I wished the stereotypes weren't there, I do think that the overarching message that any person can accomplish great things when given opportunities to prosper regardless of IQ is important and worth a discussion. Our middle school teachers have been using this book as a forum for character education as well. Readers can muddle along with the book's cast of characters who alternately show courage, fear; kindness, meanness; and more as they make good and bad choices at school.

Donovan Curtis, the protagonist, is the class clown who pulls a prank that lands him accidentally in the Academy for Scholastic Distinction, a gifted program for students (and teachers) with IQ's over 130. An average student, Donovan feels like a stowaway on the Titanic, avoiding the Superintendent's witch hunt for him because his prank had some serious consequences. When the gifted students meet Donovan they like him for his "normalness." He humanizes the robot by naming it in robotics, is skilled at driving it, and helps the class avoid taking summer school because of an administrative error. Eventually, Donovan has to own up for his prank and the consequences are difficult for his classmates, himself, and his family. Through it all he becomes a better person and learns to face his own prejudices and weaknesses.

The different points of view round out the characters from the students to the teachers. Chloe interprets the world creating hypotheses that she further explores as she gets to know Donovan. Other hypotheses are just funny such as when she jokes that the gifted students study so much they have prison-pale faces and perhaps the computer monitors could become Sun-lamped enhanced for a false tan? She has a crush on Donovan, just like boy genius, Noah, is fascinated by Donovan who makes guesses and is impulsive. Some reviewers have argued that the gifted students are inaccurately portrayed as uncreative like Donovan. Donovan could be used as a foil to explore this issue, but I agree that the implied message that gifted students are not creative is erroneous. Abigail is not star-struck by Donovan and insists he doesn't belong to the school. Her ambiguous actions are interesting at the end. I liked the character, Noah, except the wrestling bit was out there. The plot got more unbelievable as the story went on with robotics competition and Noah. Realistic fiction kind of gets a bum wrap when it comes to believability. Fantasy can get away with anything, but throw in something exaggerated in realistic fiction and the reader goes, "Huh?" I had some huh-moments at the end, but it is still fun.

The robot's name, Tin Man, and the robotics teacher, Oz, from the "Wizard of Oz," mirror Donovan's situation that is similar to Dorothy's who was dropped into an alternate world. Like Dorothy, Donovan is permanently changed by the experience and makes close friends along the way. Ms. Bevelaqua even makes a parallel to Donovan passing the Academy retest to Tin Man getting a diploma. " Even though he passed, he was still failing her class and all the others in school. Donovan can't keep up with the gifted students academically but he realizes later that he learned quite a bit. I kept waiting for Oz to be more of a mentor to Donovan, but that doesn't happen. Instead, Donovan learns what it means to work on a team, something he doesn't get at the beginning when he makes a goofy rhyme up saying his basketball team will lose by 50 points. He also doesn't understand the power of labels at first, but does at the end of the story.

I've lived with people who have IQ's in the 140s and know several geniuses and the one trait they all seem to have is a great memory and the ability to work on the same task for long periods of time. Some were nerds but others were athletes. Some were shy and others were outgoing. Some were successful and others were not. While Korman does question and point out the negativity of separating genius from average in school and society putting too much emphasis on IQ, I would have liked to have seen the teachers at the gifted school help Donovan more with academics and recognized other variables of giftedness. Perhaps the story would have felt more authentic instead of extreme in the school settings. Of course, the extremeness maybe makes it more poignant and contrasting. I don't know. This is one of those books I should turn around and reread so I can process it more. Whatever you decide, it is a funny novel with a thought-provoking topic.

3 Smileys

Captain Awesome to the Rescue! by Stan Kirby, George O'Connor

In the same vein as Roscoe Riley and Junie B. Jones, this book has a superhero theme that will appeal to the grade 2-3 crowd. The main strength of the story comes from eight-year-old Eugene McGillicudy's imagination as he deals with his fears of starting at a new school by embracing his fearless alter ego, Captain Awesome. When Eugene is given responsibility to take the class pet home, his classmate, Meredith, becomes jealous causing him trouble. Fortunately, Captain Awesome knows how to deal with villains in a bold way.

Students love comics and will relate to Eugene's infatuation with his superhero, Super Dude. When Eugene meets another boy, Charlie, who is just as crazy about Super Dude as him, they become instant friends and form a superhero club. Those who love Captain Underpants might take a liking to this tale as Eugene labels the villains in his life such as his baby sister, Queen Stinkypants, and Meredith, Miss Stinky Pinky. Teachers can use it as a lesson in name-calling and kindness, but most grade 2 students know the difference between being kind and mean. This might be a bit off topic, but I have yet to read a book where a teacher immediately punishes a kid for name-calling. Most teachers I work with in the lower grades have zero tolerance for name-calling in the classroom. Kids lose minutes on recess if they make that choice. Teachers can't build solid classroom communities if name-calling is allowed and yet I can't tell you how many books I read where kids are allowed to call other kids names. Kind of interesting.

When Eugene adopts his Captain Awesome persona it helps him deal with his emotions such as annoyance, belonging, and fear. His baby sister is his "archenemy ...Queen Stinkypants from Planet Baby!" and he wails at the thought of her drooling or wrecking his action figure toys. To protect his toys he dons his cape and mask to chase her away.  When Ms. Beasley asks him to say something in front of the class he becomes scared and thinks of her as a new villain named, "Miss Beastly." He feels bad when the students laugh at him and isn't able to talk in front of the class until he puts on his Captain Awesome costume. (Remember that trick next time you have to speak in public.) Again, I'm thinking at our school a teacher would have her morning meeting and students would greet each other and meet new kids in a structured way to build classroom community. Kids have a choice as to whether or not they want to talk. Sometimes it's hard to read books as an educator especially when teachers are presented as insensitive and in ways that don't reflect all the scaffolding that goes on in primary grades. 

For the most part, Eugene sounds young but there were times he sounded too mature for an eight-year-old. I think one of the hardest things with transitional readers is to get the right voice. An adult trying to capture a child's voice doesn't always come off and there can be didactic parts that stand out. When Charlie and Eugene talk about the meatloaf lunch they sound too old. I could see them attack it as superheroes and make a game out of playing with their food. At one point I thought the author might write more like the Junie B. Jones using grammar that little kids use such as when Eugene describes something as the "worstest, awfulest truth", but this doesn't happen throughout the book. So if you are an adult who can't stand reading Junie B. Jones out loud because of the incorrect grammar, don't worry, this only had a smidgeon of that on the pages. Eugene does use slang like "toldja" and dialogue that sounds like a kiddo. Remember, that I'm coming at this book from an adult perspective and biased educator. There aren't many choices of books for young readers and this one is going to "speak" to most youngins'. This is a good addition to any library.

3 Smileys