Into the Dark

by Nicholas Wilde

Matthew has come with his mother to the north Norfolk coast where she has rented a cottage in the grounds of an abandoned old manor-house. A local boy, Roly, becomes his guide through a lonely and mysterious landscape of dunes and creeks and sea. These and the derelict mansion begin to haunt Matthew's imagination and he gradually senses a shadow of fear lurking beneath his deepening friendship with Roly. The truth proves to be stranger than anything he could have foreseen. In this haunting story with a richly poetic climax, Nicholas Wilde, a master of the English ghost story, deftly combines a supernatural theme with a sensitive understanding of the emotions of a young boy as he explores the joys and the hurts of friendship , the reaching out, and the letting go.

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Horror

188 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[Erin]

This little gem is an Apple Paperback from 1987 that I missed back then. It would be great for fans of Betty Ren Wright and had a lovely spooky atmosphere. Set in England, blind tween Matthew takes a quick holiday with his mum to a beach cottage, where he meets another boy named Roly who helps him walk to the water on his own. However, Roly bounces from happiness to melancholy lightning fast and Matthew must discover why.

There's something about these books that brings me back in time for just a few minutes, where I can really feel being twelve years old in the 80s reading these books, in the same way that music or a scent can also bring you back in time.

[Rosaria Battiloro]

Una ghost story per ragazzi molto classica, ma piacevole, ben scritta e di grande atmosfera! Un libro che se avessi letto da ragazzina sarebbe diventato uno dei miei preferiti in assoluto!

[Stephen]

Saw this recently for 20 cents and decided to check it out. The story is about a blind boy who's struggling mother takes him on their first ever vacation to a sea-side village. There he meets a mysterious boy named Roly and the two have several secret adventures together but there's just something about Roly that's not quite natural...

This is a great cross between a teen novel and a classic English ghost story. While the ending isn't quite as well written as I'd like, the story is unique enough and enthralling enough to capture the reader's interest. For certain teen male reluctant readers, this book might be just the ticket.

For a voracious reader like myself, it was still a great afternoon's ghost story.

[Zulma Rincón]

Es bello ver con los ojos de un niño ciego. Observar sus sentimientos, sus emociones y su manera de ver. Es inesperado pensar que su amigo puede ser un fantasma y al mismo tiempo es algo que se te insinúa desde el inicio. En retrospectiva es fascinante reconocer su capacidad de ver el mundo y moverse por el. En definitiva perder un sentido nos vuelve más sensibles. Amé la manera de escribir, de llevarte de la mano, como si los ciegos fuéramos nosotros.

[Tyjanna Rocheleau]

I think this so one of my most favorite books I ever read!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love this book so much!

[Christian]

Everyone remembers the first book that ever made them cry. This was mine. I think I was eight or nine, nine or ten. Around the same age as the main characters. The climax hit me like a gut punch. It is a book about friendship, grief, regret, and redemption. I loved it and still love it. I cried and still cry.

[Megan]

I first read this book in fifth grade and loved it ever since. I've read it at least three times when I've stumbled upon it again, but could never remember the title! A great story about a blind boy who makes a very unusual friend on his summer vacation.

[Kaila]

This wasn't horrible. Predictable but I did enjoy the fact that the main character is blind. It was interesting but a bit slow for me.

[Christine Murdock]

Fun quick read with an interesting twist. I enjoyed reading this and picturing the people and places.
It is a fictional ghost story.

[Sof]

mi corazón de pollo no aguantó 💔

[Gilbert Cabrera]

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