Is 'The Dark Is Rising' Appropriate For Middle Schoolers?

The Dark Below is a steam-punk/fantasy world filled with the darkness that rests beneath a wavering tide. Generations ago, Gods from the depths below rose from the black seas and in doing so, caused a great flood that would have destroyed all of humanity if it was not for the ingenuity of survival. Living among The Dark Below has come to pass, but now four warriors must come together in hopes of forging a brighter future.

All human beings have been born with darkness inside. The challenge that we face in every passing day is controlling this darkness sheltered within us; if not, demons will feed on that darknes, find a way to possess both our body and soul, and wreak havoc to our lives as we know it. In this story, five unique teenage individuals harbor darkness within their souls using it to combat evil and save the mortal world from destruction. Along with their all-knowing homeroom adviser, these teens delve into the world of mythology and folklore. Join Cassidy, Noah, Maura, Lowan, Ross, and Ms. Reina in witnessing the war between the dark and the evil unfold. P.S. - Points of view change every two chapters. Please enjoy diving into their stories one by one.

Everything has a cost. I never thought the cost of falling in love could be my life. But when the Vampire Council gets reports of increased magical activity in the surrounding areas, they give the order for vampires to kill any witches they come across. I trust Lucas to never hurt me, but he’s not the only vampire in my life, and let’s just say the others aren’t my biggest fans. While I’m busy trying not to be come vampire chow, something dark and powerful is surrounding Thorne Hill, infecting everything—and everyone—that gets in its path. If the darkness gets to the Ley line, then the whole town is doomed. I won’t go down without a fight, but how can I fight something I can’t even see?

Ington,a vampire town where humans and human vampires are seen as unclean is the home of Ava, a human vampire who was fortunate to live in the royal house because the dark lord saved her from a dark witch who killed her family.Though human vampires are not allowed to stay in the royal house,Ava's case is different as the dark lord takes a liking in her. Ava is the innocent human vampire and Vador the vampire king every female vampire wants to sleep with. What do you think will happen when the council members discover Vador went against the law?Do you think Ava and Vador will end up together or will some circumstances succeed in keeping them apart? The dark witches aren't exactly backing out of the fight either since they became enemies with the vampires due to an event that took place in the past where Vador killed a dark witch who killed his parents. Now,secrets must be unfolded,lies discovered and blood spilled as the dark witches want revenge. They want the dark lord's position.

Nathaniel Hemlock was once one of the most feared pirates to ever sail the seas. His endless quest for gold and power claimed many lives but never concerned him since his heart had long hardened. That is until one day that desire took a dark turn. For power and gold he traded not only his own soul but that of his crew. Now he is cursed to sail the seas until the end of time, unless 1000 more souls are given, one a year...all must be children which was one of the only things he would never do. Present day. Lloyd has always scoffed at the legends that bring visitors to his town near the sea, and with the arrival of a movie crew it's gotten worse. Returning home one evening he sees a strange, old fashioned boat docked and curiously decides to board it. A decision he soon regrets. Once onboard he cannot leave. Nathaniel is not best pleased but there is little he can do and decides to use Lloyd as a cabin boy to make himself useful while he continues to search for another way of breaking his curse and freeing his crew. Their lives will soon become more entwined and perhaps Lloyd is the one who can warm the frozen heart.

The Mother That Fed the Dark is a study of inherited guilt, ritual, and the long reach of a mother's choices. Amahle, a woman who practices the old rituals in secret, believes that her younger son , Sipho, was born as a spiritual "door" to be sacrificed for the sake of power and protection. During the ritual she performed , she got interrupted by the older son, Thando, who died instead. While the community believes Thando's death was accidental, Amahle knows better: it was the wrong son who died, and the ritual was left unfinished. Drenched in fear and resentment , Amahle raises Sipho as if he is the love of her life, while at the same time working to destroy him. Behind closed doors, she feeds the supernatural force from the failed ritual, which weakens Sipho, making him fearful and dependent. As Sipho grows, so do the misfortunes that follow him, and an unseen entity begins to present itself-first in dreams and whispers, then in the physical world . What we see is that the ritual did not bind to the house but to Sipho's bloodline. When Sipho leaves home, the haunting grows stronger. After Amahle's death, Sipho finds her secret notebooks , which reveal to him the shocking truth: that his brother's death was a mistake and, in fact, Sipho was never meant to die but to be the vehicle for the ritual, which he indeed is. Setting the family home on fire brings only temporary relief , but the curse does not break. In the final revelation, Sipho realizes that he is not the offering but the keeper, the living portal through which harmony, hardship, and magical power flow. Unlike his mother, he comes to the realization that he has a choice.