Heartsease

What The Weathermonger (502, J-196) disposed of, Mr. Dickinson revives here - namely the disturbing Changes that have put modern England in the Dark Ages - in a successor that is not a sequel but a minor variation on the theme. The reigning fear of machines and strangers has resulted in the stoning of another "witch," found barely alive by Margaret and cousin Jonathan, who nurse him and, with servant girl Lucy and her "zany" brother Tim, plot to spirit him away on an abandoned tug in Gloucester harbor - a flight that becomes urgent when Tim is designated the next scapegoat, imperative when Uncle Peter learns of the plan. The tense trip through the canal to Bristol Channel - Jonathan guiding the boat, Margaret racing on her pony to open the bridges, the villagers rallying to intercept them - achieves a hold on the reader that has more to do with fiction than with conviction: unlike Jeff and Sally in the earlier, craftier book, these two are thrust into the situation, one that they never really understand. The Preface alerts readers who've not read The Weathermonger "and don't want to"; if they read this first, they may not want to - which would be a pity since it's a far more compelling construct with a more ingenious and audacious chase sequence. (Kirkus Reviews)