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The Dark Is Rising

(1973, Fiction - Fantasy, Written by Susan Cooper)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 9; suggested age 9.
  • Is it any good?

    5.0
  • Common Sense says

    Classic fantasy is a bit slow, but enthralling.

updated 07.04.08

Why We Rated This on for Ages 9 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    A young man turns against his benefactor and follows the forces of the Dark.
  • Violence :

    A sign is burnt into a young boy's hand, but the scar later disappears. A mother breaks her leg when she is forced to throw herself down a flight of stairs. A flock of birds attack people. Multiple encounters between agents of the Dark and the Light.
  • Sex :

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Dark Is Rising

Parents need to know that the author's powerful narrative vision will draw young readers into this exciting tale. There is some fantasy violence and a young man turns against his benefactor and follows the forces of the Dark. This is the second book in a five-book series and actually the best one to start with.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about great fantasies. What are your favorite fantasy reads and why? Do they have characteristics in common? Why is the struggle of good vs. evil such a common theme?
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See all 12 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer
    Age 13
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 1.0

    confusing and hard to follow

    It is a shame that some schools require this book to be read, it is hand down the worst book I've ever read. It is hard to follow confusing and boring, I can't read this book for more than an hour without falling asleep, crying,or sometimes both. Bottom line- Don't read it ever.

  2. Teen Reviewer
    Age 13
    Lives in
    I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 1.0

    Respond to so what ( A MUST READ!!!!!!!!! )

    so what this is not a must read book the only thing good about it is that a movie came out about it. This book is a waste of time and i'm surprised that you liked it. This book had a terrible plot, it was hard to understand, and the chapters were confusing. This book is not a must read book and I do not recommend it for anybody unless you have to read it.

  3. Teen Reviewer
    Age 13
    Lives in
    I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 1.0

    Respond to uwuwu ( This is a horrible book )

    uwuwu I agree with you, this is a bad book the story line is hard to follow the characters a weird and the whole book is very hard to understand. I also agree with that this book is not appropriate for children. This book is violent and its hard to believe that it won an award that this book is made for kids of the age 13 .

  4. Teen Reviewer
    Age 13
    Lives in
    I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 1.0

    Respond to mkalv ( Hard To Understand )

    I agree with you this book is hard to understand. The whole book is confusing and I don't understand the plot and what is happening. I had to constantly re-read the first chapter just to sort of understand what is happening. This book is just to hard to understand and I completely agree with you.

  5. Teen Reviewer
    Age 15
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 3.0

    Hard to understand.

    I enjoyed this book, but it was at times hard to understand. It had a lot of fantasy, though. I enjoyed the film more.

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