Silver on the Tree (The Dark Is Rising Sequence Series #5) by Susan Cooper

The Dark is rising in its last and greatest bid to control the world. And Will Stanton last-born of the immortal Old Ones, dedicated to keeping the world free must join forces with this ageless master Merriman and Bran, the Welsh boy whose destiny ties him to the Light. Drawn in with them are the three Drew children, who are mortal, but have their own vital part in the story. These six fight fear and death in the darkly brooding Welsh hills, in a quest through time and space that touches the most ancient myths of the British Isles, and that brings Susan Cooper's masterful sequence of novels to a satysfying close.

• "And Where the Midsummer Tree Grows Tall by Pendragon's Sword the Dark Shall Fall."
• The Dark is rising in its last and greatest bid to control the world. Six individuals have come together to drive it back for good: Will, the Sign seeker; Bran, the raven boy; Jane, Simon, and Barney, the grail seekers; and Merriman, the wise mentor who unites them all. Together they stand ready to face the Rider and the full force of the Dark.

But the last object of power must first be found. A sword of legend magically forged of pure crystal remains hidden in the Welsh hills. Without it, the Light has no hope against the Dark. Will and his companions must travel through time and space in an epic clash of magical powers that will decide the fate of us all.

Book 5 of *The Dark Is Rising Sequence *

The Dark is rising in its last and greatest bid to control the world. And Will Stanton -- last-born of the immortal Old Ones, dedicated to keeping the world free -- must join forces with his ageless master and Bran, the Welsh boy whose destiny ties him to the Light. Along with the mortal Drew children they fight fear and death in a satisfying close to a masterful series.

An accelerated Reader® Title

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From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8 This dramatic reading of Silver on the Tree (Atheneum, 1977) concludes Susan Cooper's five book fantasy sequence, The Dark Is Rising. With the Arthurian legend as its core, it presents the classic myth culminating with the battle of good against evil. The Drew children, Merriman, and Bran, their Welsh friend, try to outwit the schemes and strategies of the Dark. British actor Alex Jennings provides a stunning vocal performance, sliding in and out of voices so easily that listeners will soon forget that there is only one narrator. From the rich, resonant Merriman to the lilting Welsh brogue of Bran, the voice variations achieved for the multitude of characters is outstanding. The rapid narration adds intensity and urgency to the unfolding events. In order to understand the story, it is important to follow the series in sequence. The audio versions of the previous four titles in the series are available from Listening Library. The richness of the story and the excellent reading will sate those who revel in this format and delight those who are new to it. -Tina Hudak, St. Bernard's School, Riverdale, MD
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"When most people hear 'large-print book,' they immediately think senior citizen. But large-print editions of popular children's books -- from the powerhouse Harry Potter series to timeless classics like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer -- are now making their way onto the shelves of the Children's Department at the Canton Library. . . . Although large-print editions are targeted to the visually-impaired or dyslexic child, they can also be used by standard-vision readers. So Kershner [Children's librarian at the Canton Public Library] has decided against creating a special section in the Children's Department (as exists in the Adult Department) opting instead to intersperse large-print books on the shelves with the regular print versions of the same titles."
-- The Observer and Eccentric (October 2000) (The Observer and Eccentric 20001001)

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-- Jim Bernardin, Islamorada, FL

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-- Sara Bernardin, Islamorada, FL 

The Dark is rising in its last and greatest bid to control the world. And Will Stanton -- last-born of the immortal Old Ones, dedicated to keeping the world free -- must join forces with this ageless master Merriman and Bran, the Welsh boy whose destiny ties him to the Light. Drawn in with them are the three Drew children, who are mortal, but have their own vital part in the story. These six fight fear and death in the darkly brooding Welsh hills, in a quest through time and space that touches the most ancient myths of the British Isles, and that brings Susan Cooper's masterful sequence of novels to a satysfying close.

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