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Book Review By Danielle
Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper

In this the first book of the Dark is rising series, Simon, Jane, and Barnabas(Barney) Drew go to Trewissick, Cornwall, with their Great-Uncle Merry. There, they discover an old map drawn by the last gardian of the grail, a chalice-like cup that,"...told upon its sides all the true story of Arthur." Great-Uncle Merry tells them that there are evil men searching for the grail as he has also been searching, and of the danger they had put themselves in. They need to follow the clues the Cornishman included in the map, and find the grail before the Dark does. But will the Dark prevent the children from finding the grail, or will Great-Uncle Merry be able to protect the Drews long enough for them to triumph?


Plot & Themes
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy story on current Earth
Tech./$$$/Info hunt Yes
Stealing/recovering/destroying
Is this an adult or child's book? - Kid's book (ages 7-14)
Descript. of chases or violence - 10 %
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 50 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 %
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10 %

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - a kid

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - long-lived adults
Profession/status:
Has magical powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - can cast all sorts of spells
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Setting
Earth setting: - 20th century
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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