Susan Cooper always writes well. This is one of her deceptively simple books. On the face of it the story is an uncomplicated children's story, but it is, as the title suggests, about learning what fear really is. For Derek and his friends, Peter and Geoffrey, think the war is, as Derek's father said of their attitude: 'Just a great game.' They continue to build their den, go to school, fight off the neighbouring street's children who destroy their den, and wonder, for there are undercurrents they sense the grown ups know about. Even the nightly air raids are adventures, not seriously scary. ttOver the nine busy days of the story Derek changes from the boy who thinks war is exciting, who collects shrapnel and enjoys watching the dog fights, to one who understands war as destruction and death.tSusan Cooper's skills turn this difficult subject into one any child can understand. It is also a book which would give a youngster an understanding of what it was like during WWII, seen through the eyes of Derek, someone their age and a likeable character. Whilst I've made the novel sound like a history text, which it could be used for, in fact it is a cracking good read, as are all Susan Cooper's books.
this was a kick in the head. one week in the life of a half dozen 10-12 year olds near London during ww2. not a nice story. made me thankful for not living during wartimes that affect me personally. this goes in depth about what "normal" life was like in Britian then. breakfast, play, radio programmes are natural part of the story. the ending could have gone many ways, fortunately it didn't, it went true to the story.just read the bio of Susan Cooper on goodreads. i assumed she wrote the book as an outsider, an american having well researched contemporary English life. she grew up in Britian, first woman to edit the Oxford university paper, wrote for Ian Fleming before coming to US and owning the Newbery medal for several years and marrying Hume Cronyn.now i need to find out if she wrote an autobiography.
What do You think about Dawn Of Fear (1989)?
I promised myself that I would read some more books about WWII from the English citizen's perspective after I returned from my trip to the UK. This is the first in the line up of books that I have chosen. It is a young adult book but it is well written (as most youth literature is these days) and it is painful to read and yet beautiful. Susan Cooper has never yet disappointed me and I would recommend this book just as I have all of her others. But read it too, don't just give it to your children. It is one that should be discussed a wee bit.
—Cynthia Egbert
Young Derek is trying to grow up during the bombing of London. He learns lessons about sacrifice and fear in a world we can't control. Overall, I was disapointed in this book. I never fell in love with the characters because they just never revealed themselves to me. The author tries to throw in some deepness at the end of the book, but it's too little too late. An extra thing, the artwork on the cover does not happen in the book, which I found interesting since I found the book to be a let down when it came to substance.
—Duane
