Susan Cooper wrote this fantasy for older children and adults in 1965. Over Sea, Under Stone is the first of five books in the Dark is Rising series. With a total of 362 pages, this novel is split across 14 long chapters and an epilogue.
Simon, Jane and Barney Drew go on holiday with their parents and mysterious uncle to a seemingly peaceful seaside village. The children soon find a manuscript with an ancient secret. With help from their uncle, they follow the clues to a grail and uncover the mystery. However, an evil force is also after the manuscript’s secret. Will the children find the grail first? Will the evil power win?
The main protagonists (Simon, Jane and Barney) are siblings, with Simon being the oldest and Barney being the youngest. The children’s parents are mentioned in the book but are side characters and do not have an important role. The trio’s great uncle isn’t related but a close friend of the family. However, the children don’t know much about him or how he became friends with the family: Simon, Jane, Barney and their parents do not ask questions about Great Uncle Merry. If he is asked a question, Gumerry acts like it was never said. Furthermore, he constantly disappears before and during the story. Barney is obsessed with King Arthur, resulting in him being determined to find the grail. This is due to King Arthur using the grail to fight off an evil power long ago. Simon, on the other hand, is interested in boats. Upon seeing a yacht, Simon ‘clutched Jane by the arm’ and said ‘Gosh-look!‘
The main theme of Over Sea, Under Stone is a classic: good vs evil. In this case, the good side consists of the children and a good power acting through Great Uncle Merry. The evil side features an evil power and all the people it controls. Throughout the book, the evil power seems to grow, taking over everyone who the children come across. This power even takes over Barney. However, Barney is able to fight back and break free. Furthermore, the evil power doesn’t seem able to take over Gumerry, Simon or Jane. Another theme is teamwork. This allows the children to follow the clues as Great Uncle Merry lures the evil away. Furthermore, they work together to find the grail in a cave, with Jane watching the tide and SImon and Barney exploring. On the other hand, the evil team doesn’t work together and follows the evil power out of fear.
The first part of the book mostly takes place in the Greyhouse (the house where the family is staying) until the manuscript is found. Then, the rest of the book takes place in the seaside town of Trewissick. The book appears to be set in the present.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy mystery and adventure. In terms of age, I would suggest this book to 11-year-olds and older. This is due to the book not having any humour or pictures and the story getting darker as it progresses.