AFTER CANDLEMAS

by Ruth M. Arthur ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 20, 1974

As in The Autumn People (KR, 1973), the dead and the warnings on their gravestones continue to exert a powerful fascination on the living. Here Harriet, visiting a flu-bound classmate in Dorset during an unscheduled school closing, is troubled by a memorial to a boy rumored to have been killed by local witches and foresees danger for a reform school runaway who has been hiding in the caves along the beach and who finds and destroys the town coven's sacred staff. The evil forces never appear in daylight though their intentions and power are evident enough -- when the runaway is nearly crushed in a rock slide and old Granny, who warned both children of the danger, is found dead in her rocking chair. Granny's fate aside, this is one of those pleasantly exhilarating brushes with the supernatural, enjoyed between cozy teas in front of the family fireplace and treasured as an excuse to put off doing vacation homework. Comfortable.

Pub Date: March 20, 1974

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 128

Publisher: Atheneum

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1974

Categories: FICTION