Susan Cooper | Rereading Our Childhood

In this episode, we read Susan Cooper’s 1973 novel The Dark is Rising, which was a Newbery Honor Book. It’s the story of Will, a British boy who discovers on his eleventh birthday that he’s the last of the Old Ones, destined to fight against the forces of the Dark. It takes place over the period from the winter solstice to the twelfth day of Christmas, so it’s a great holiday season read. (If the whole “magical British boy/eleventh birthday” thing sounds familiar, Cooper is widely considered to have influenced J.K. Rowling.)

Mentioned on this episode:

Other books in the The Dark is Rising series:

Over Sea, Under Stone (1965)

Greenwitch (1974)

The Grey King (1975)

Silver on the Tree (1977)

Also by Susan Cooper:

Dawn of Fear

Also mentioned:

The Phoenix and the Carpet by E. Nesbit, which a woman reads to the children of Will’s village during a snowstorm.

The 2022 BBC radio adaption of The Dark is Rising, available here

The Seeker, the 2007 movie based in The Dark is Rising, trailer here

Kids’ reviews of The Dark is Rising at Common Sense Media

2020 Backlisted podcast episode on The Dark is Rising

2022 Backlisted podcast episode on Ballet Shoes

The Lost Land of Susan Cooper, Susan Cooper’s official website

Other episodes mentioned:

Rereading The Saturdays by Elizabeth Enright

Rereading A W r inkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

Rereading Half Magic by Edward Eager

Rereading The Owl Service by Alan Garner

Rereading Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild

Rereading The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander

Rereading Black Hearts in Battersea by Joan Aiken

Rereading February’s Road by John Verney

Rereading The Children of Green Knowe by L.M. Boston

Recommended for fans of The Dark is Rising: the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling, The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander, and Black Hearts in Battersea by Joan Aiken (Deborah); The Once and Future King by T.H. White and the Callendar family series, including Friday’s Tunnel and February’s Road, by John Verney.

You can find Deborah’s author interviews at Bo oks Q&A by Deborah Kalb and Mary Grace’s adventures in the 1920s on her blog, My Life 100 Years Ago.

This episode was edited by Adam Linder of Bespoken Podcasting.

(You can listen to this episode here.)

Mary Grace and Deborah ring in 2024 with a special episode where they count down their five favorite books from 50 years ago, defined as published between 1972 and 1974. They (mostly) didn’t reread these books for the episode, so their choices are based on their childhood memories.

As Mary Grace mentions, the format was inspired by the Book Riot podcast, which has done a number of similar countdowns, including a fun episode on the top bookish phenomena of the past 25 years.

Here are Deborah’s and Mary Grace’s favorites–but we suggest that you listen to the episode before looking at the list!

Deborah’s Favorites

5. Nobody’s Family is Going to Change by Louise Fitzhugh
4. A Billion for Boris by Mary Rodgers
3. Victoria by Barbara Brooks Wallace
2. The Genie of Sutton Place by George Selden
1. A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver by E.L. Konigsburg

Mary Grace’s Favorites

5. A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L’Engle
4. Dinky Hocker Shoots Smack! by M.E. Kerr
3. Glory in the Flower by Norma Johnston
2. A Billion for Boris by Mary Rodgers
1. The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper

You can find Deborah’s author interviews on her blog Bo oks Q&A by Deborah Kalb and Mary Grace’s adventures in the 1920s on her blog, My Life 100 Years Ago.

This episode was edited by Adam Linder of Bespoken Podcasting.

Rereading Our Childhood

Revisiting the books that made us who we are today

Tag Archives: Susan Cooper

Rereading The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper

Our Favorite Children’s Books from 50 Years Ago