Lovers of myth and legend will really enjoy these two new books.  If this review reads like one of those 'compare and contrast' essays you dreaded (or dread) writing at school then I apologise in advance.  I happened to read these books in the same week and was taken aback by the many similarities between the stories.  This is not however, a criticism.  They may both be set in small British villages, in summer as an annual fair or carnival comes to town, have teenage male protagonists, draw on well known characters, stories and symbols from Celtic or Classical Mythology, and be about the hidden cost of mysterious 'gifts' - but because they have been written for different age groups their endings and overall mood are very different.

The Lammas Field, written for a young adult audience, is a chilling read about a teenager on the cusp of manhood.  Mick Carter loves playing music more than anything in the world.  His father, preoccupied with his new wife, their baby and running the failing family estate discourages Mick in his pursuit of music as a career.  When a mysterious woman arrives at the Lammas Fair, claiming that Mick has called her with his music, we share Mick's unease about her motives.  Her promise to make Mick brilliant at no apparent cost signals the beginning of the battle for Mick's soul.

Fisher's gripping tale can be read on many levels.  I initially read it on purely literal level - that Mick's addiction was to playing music, and that Fisher had made clever use of the traditional motif of the impossible quest for inspiration or  youth (reminiscent of the Celtic story Oisin in the Land of Youth).  But if you step back from the story, the themes of addiction and loneliness jump out and many of the incidents and artefacts used by Fisher in the book could easily be metaphors for substance dependency.

In her tragic, and for me completely unexpected, ending, Fisher seems to be sending an urgent message to teenagers and their parents: that adolescence can be a lonely journey and tragedy can be avoided if parents, older siblings or influential adults support and encourage teenagers in their struggle to find themselves (even in the face of supposed sense and practicality).  She seems to be warning that young people will find solace and self-discovery in the lure of dangerous activities or substances if this support and understanding is not forthcoming in the home setting.

In contrast, The Enchanted Village, with its more light-hearted tone, would suit a primary to lower secondary aged audience.   Piers Baxter is the only son of loving and very involved parents.  When a woman, soaked by a Summer thunderstorm, arrives at their caravan door one night asking for help, the Baxters invite her in, share their dinner with her and give her a bed for the night.  In return she tells them a marvellous Greek story about a poor elderly couple called Philemon and Baucis who welcome Zeus and his son Hermes into their home and offer them generous hospitality.  When the Baxters wake the woman is gone.  Piers has no idea what problems the gift she leaves behind will cause.  The woman's name is Demetria and she leaves none other than a golden apple.  Accepting the golden apple draws Piers into judging a beauty competition between Venus, Athene and Hera and teaches him some important lessons about loyalty and making promises.  Both books are highly recommended, not only for their engaging stories but also for the authors' abilities to lead the reader on an interesting chase to track down all the references to myths and legends. 

Review by Sarah Mayor Cox

© 2000 Sarah Mayor Cox