Dark Summer by Ali Sparkes
Oxford University Press, 2009.
(9+)Highly recommended. Eddie feels like a fish out of water after
being sent to stay with his Auntie Kath and ghastly cousins, while his
Mum recovers from a serious illness. He's an outdoor kind of lad and
escapes his disco dancing, gaming obsessed cousins to encounter the
excitement of caving in the Mendip hills. Here he bumps into Gwerren, a
new age girl who knows the caves like the back of her hand and is happy
to introduce Eddie to more fun than a day out at Alton Towers. When one
of Eddie's cousins falls into a concealed cave, Eddie tries to rescue
him and discovers the secret of Gwerren's existence. Meanwhile Wilf, an
elderly relative, who lives with Auntie Kath, is about to be packed off
to a ghastly old people's home. Eddie feels a strong affinity with the
old man and is determined to to save him from this appalling fate, so
he and Gwerren hatch a daring plan.
I became a huge fan of Ali Sparkes after devouring Frozen in Time
and
although her latest novel may be called Dark Summer it is a
sparkling
read with a fantastic plot that weaves the many strands into a
satisfying conclusion. I was particularly impressed by Sparkes' ability
to bring the setting of the Mendip Hills to breathtaking life. Her
characterisation is also strong and I felt like hissing every time
Auntie Kath appeared and cheering at Eddie's determination to protect
the elderly Wilf.
Sparkes has a knack for keeping the excitement and suspense simmering,
while at the same time covering the more thoughtful issues of fitting
in, friendship, the generation gap and lost opportunities. This should
appeal to able readers, both boys and girls, from about 9 to 13, who
enjoy adventure and mystery and are looking for something more
substantial to get their teeth into.
Claire Larson