The Dark is Rising – Susan Cooper

Since I’ve been on a rereading binge this year, I had to bring out The Dark is Rising. Set during the twelve days of Christmas, it’s how eleven-year old Will Stanton discovers that he is an Old One – the guardians of the Light, and his first quest as an Old One – to gain the six Signs of power.

This story still completely holds up – though it was written in the 70s, it’s a perfectly recognizable modern day family story, until the ancient British myths and legends surrounding the Old Ones and their power are brought into the tale. I highly recommend this book to any young adult fantasy lover – it’s a classic of the genre.