In particular to life and enhance the story's somewhat dark, nautical feel. Petersen's full-page half-tone illustrations bring the aufwaders Meanwhile, evil socialite Rowena Cooper also seeks the moonkelp for her own purposes, and is not above committing murder to get it. ('wanderer of the shore') in a cemetery, 'eyes as big as his fists and as gray as the stormy sea' he learns how one of these 'fisher folk' once married a human and bore a child, which brought about a curse from the Lords of the Deep-and Ben holds the key to finding the 'moonkelp' that can overturn it. Jennet learns that Alice and the old ladies of the village are witches who engage in a monthly séance. Ben, who has seen visions of ghosts all his life, has a particularly terrifying night during which the house seems filled with them. (Sept.Jarvis's (the Deptford Mice trilogy) story of witches and creatures from the sea stars orphans Jennet, 12, and eight-year-old Ben, who are brought to live with their Aunt Alice in the seaside town of Whitby. The author conveys a sense of place powerful enough to elevate the South London boroughs of Greenwich and Blackheath to requisite stops on any bookish child's literary tour of the British capital. Jarvis provides counterpoint to the heart-racing adventure with scenes of haunting beauty, including Audrey's mystical encounter with the Green Mouse and the country mouse Twit's nocturnal flight over London. Numerous hair-raising encounters with the bloodthirsty rats ensue, until at last the valiant mice come face-to-face with Jupiter in a climactic showdown. Albert's daughter, Audrey, armed with a special ''brass'' bequeathed to her by the Green Mouse, ventures into Jupiter's realm to rescue her father her brother and a band of loyal friends eventually follow her. These worlds collide when the mouse Albert Brown is magically lured into the sewers. Jupiter, a villain par excellence, rules over the rats and emanates a nearly palpable aura of evil. Meanwhile, deep in the foul recesses of the sewers, brutish ratsDwhose primary diversion is hunting and eating miceDtoil at endless digging.

In an abandoned old house known as the Skirtings in the London borough of Deptford, a colony of gentle mice lead tidy, sheltered lives, follow their ancient traditions and worship the Green Mouse (a kindly god who resembles the agricultural deities of ancient Britain). First published in Britain in 1989 and making its first appearance on American shores, book one of the Deptford Mice Trilogy is a spooky and enthralling animal fantasy just right for Redwall fans.

The Dark Portal by Robin Jarvis