Review: Recommended for mid-grade readers and up
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 9, 2012
Book Info: Genre: Magical Reality/Fantasy Reading Level: Young AdultDisclosure: I received a free copy of this eBook in a LibraryThing giveaway in exchange for an honest review.Synopsis: "The figure stood still for a long time, as if waiting for something to happen. Dawn began to paint the tiled roofs of the cottages red, but the light did not reach down into the alley. A mist grew around the figure, and dark shapes moved within the mist. It raised its head, and sniffed at the air, like a dog that has caught the scent of a rabbit. Then it spoke, the voice dry and papery and sounding as if it came from a long way away. "One is coming," it said, and sniffed at the air again. "A boy." The shapes in the mist moved restlessly. Then the shadows pressed in even closer around it, and when the dawn chased the last of the night from the alley there was nothing there other than an empty lobster basket set out to dry.?"When John is sent to stay with his sister in a small fishing village on the North Yorkshire coast, his parents thought that it would give him a chance to get over the tragedy that happened at school.But when John arrives in Saltcliff, he is threatened by a strange old man who has waited years for him to appear, he is followed by a mysterious black dog, and he learns that he has a part to play in an ancient legend that is older than the village itself.Can John leave the tragedies of his past behind and find the courage to save the village? And most important of all, can he stay out of the mist...?My Thoughts: This story reminded me a bit of the earlier books in The Dark is Rising series, probably because of the use of English legends and lore in the story. The characters are great, and I really liked John and his new friends Simon and Sal, along with the old bookseller Charlie. The story is fast-paced and fairly light-hearted, although it definitely has its scary moments. Elias is a scary character, and the various bully characters are menacing, too. Underlying themes include standing up to bullies, standing up for other victims, and learning to accept yourself as you are. A great book and one I would highly recommend for readers from mid-grade on up.