The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper is a speculative fiction book. The book is about Will Stanton, who is celebrating his birthday. Throughout the book Will finds himself that he is apart of a mysterious magic group and he makes the last member of the "Old Ones". The group teaches him how to use his powers to his advantage to overcome the "Rider". Read and find out how and even if Will is successful in saving the world. I did not enjoy this book. The transitions from scene to scene is hard to follow. I did not make a sudden or even powerful connection with any of the characters. I definitely would not read this book without reading the first one, or at least be introduced to the first series. Susan Cooper does not develop her characters with any personality, or does she transition the scenes. This book is very hard to read and to keep interest it. I would not recommend this book to anyone in any grade. I am still trying to figure out why this book was nominated "Newberry" winner. I would not use this text as a tool in my classroom, because it is so hard and boring. I know that everyone does not like reading the same things, but as a teacher you have to find something intriguing about the book. In this book I could not find the interesting characteristic.
Show lessThe Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper is a speculative fiction book. The book is about Will Stanton, who is celebrating his birthday. Throughout the book Will finds himself that he is apart of a mysterious magic group and he makes the last member of the "Old Ones". The group teaches him how to use his powers to his advantage to overcome the "Rider". Read and find out how and even if Will is successful in saving the world. I did not enjoy this book. The transitions from scene to scene is hard to follow. I did not make a sudden or even powerful connection with any of the characters. I definitely would not read this book without reading the first one, or at least be introduced to the first series. Susan Cooper does not develop her characters with any personality, or does she transition the scenes. This book is very hard to read and to keep interest it. I would not recommend this book to anyone in any grade. I am still trying to figure out why this book was nominated "Newberry" winner. I would not use this text as a tool in my classroom, because it is so hard and boring. I know that everyone does not like reading the same things, but as a teacher you have to find something intriguing about the book. In this book I could not find the interesting characteristic.
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"The Dark is Rising" by Susan Cooper is the second book in her series. This book was published in 1974 and has won a Newberry Award. "The Dark is Rising" is a story about a young boy, Will, being born into a very special and very powerful life. He is the 7th son of a 7th son, which entitles him to powers beyond his imagination. He is thrown into a very old battle between the Light and the Dark, and at only 11 years old must be prepared to fight. This book goes through Will's journey and struggles with his gifts and inheritance. I think this book has a great plot line and potential. I'm usually a fan of fantasy fiction like this book, but it gave me some troubles. I had a hard time actually getting into this story, and staying engrossed in it. I felt like the story was all over the place and just too much was going on. I think she did a good job of the good vs. evil battle, but it is one that has be written about and re-written about. I know children in today's age are faced with big and scary situation at younger ages. Some readers might be able to relate to Will, in that he is having to do all this at only 11 years old, still a child. I've hear many people compare this book to "a lesser Harry Potter", and I have seen some similarities. Harry begins his trials at 11, same as Will. He must also constantly be choosing between good and evil, same and Will. Harry Potter is just a much more enjoyable series, with more enjoyable characters. *evil vs. good*facing trials at a young age*coming of ageI personally found no enjoyable connection to this book, but would suggest it to a young adult reader who might enjoy it. It does cover a wide arrange of topics, I just believe they were not fasened together in the best way.
Show less"The Dark is Rising" by Susan Cooper is the second book in her series. This book was published in 1974 and has won a Newberry Award. "The Dark is Rising" is a story about a young boy, Will, being born into a very special and very powerful life. He is the 7th son of a 7th son, which entitles him to powers beyond his imagination. He is thrown into a very old battle between the Light and the Dark, and at only 11 years old must be prepared to fight. This book goes through Will's journey and struggles with his gifts and inheritance. I think this book has a great plot line and potential. I'm usually a fan of fantasy fiction like this book, but it gave me some troubles. I had a hard time actually getting into this story, and staying engrossed in it. I felt like the story was all over the place and just too much was going on. I think she did a good job of the good vs. evil battle, but it is one that has be written about and re-written about. I know children in today's age are faced with big and scary situation at younger ages. Some readers might be able to relate to Will, in that he is having to do all this at only 11 years old, still a child. I've hear many people compare this book to "a lesser Harry Potter", and I have seen some similarities. Harry begins his trials at 11, same as Will. He must also constantly be choosing between good and evil, same and Will. Harry Potter is just a much more enjoyable series, with more enjoyable characters. *evil vs. good*facing trials at a young age*coming of ageI personally found no enjoyable connection to this book, but would suggest it to a young adult reader who might enjoy it. It does cover a wide arrange of topics, I just believe they were not fasened together in the best way.
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The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper is a speculative fiction book in a series of five books. The story feaures a young boy, Will Stanton,who just turned 11 and finds out that he is unlike other kids his age. Along his journey he discovers he is the last if a magical group called the Old Ones. He learns that he must learn how to control his powers so that he can combat the dark and keep it from taking over the world. I thought it would be a book that I would enjoy but soon found that it was very labor intensive for me to read. I found myself not being able to focus during the reading if this book. I felt that Cooper was all over the place with this book and that it would be hard for a teen to keep up with the dialect. I think maybe if I had read the first book I would have had a better understanding. I feel as though I am expected to know all the characters and their significance as they appear in the story line, but I don't and that lesves me with a feeling of lost throughout my reading.I do not think I would use this in my classroom simply because I would hate to have a student read this book and then not be able to discuss it with that student. Furthermore, I do not think a student will be able to follow any better than I did.
Show lessThe Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper is a speculative fiction book in a series of five books. The story feaures a young boy, Will Stanton,who just turned 11 and finds out that he is unlike other kids his age. Along his journey he discovers he is the last if a magical group called the Old Ones. He learns that he must learn how to control his powers so that he can combat the dark and keep it from taking over the world. I thought it would be a book that I would enjoy but soon found that it was very labor intensive for me to read. I found myself not being able to focus during the reading if this book. I felt that Cooper was all over the place with this book and that it would be hard for a teen to keep up with the dialect. I think maybe if I had read the first book I would have had a better understanding. I feel as though I am expected to know all the characters and their significance as they appear in the story line, but I don't and that lesves me with a feeling of lost throughout my reading.I do not think I would use this in my classroom simply because I would hate to have a student read this book and then not be able to discuss it with that student. Furthermore, I do not think a student will be able to follow any better than I did.
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