From School Library Journal
This intriguing story, with a clever historical tie-in, sustains suspense throughout. Tim finds an old portrait of a man who bears a strong resemblance to himself, and learns that it is a drawing of an anonymous "wicked man" who seduced an innocent young barmaid--Tim's great-great-great-great grandmother. The climax to this complex tale comes when Tim's class goes on a field trip to the Yorkshire moors, land of the Brontes. During a life-threatening storm, Tim and some friends are rescued by a shadowy figure whom they follow to safety--the ghost of Branwell Bronte, the wicked man of his grandmother's story. Later Tim realizes that he has been following Branwell's path to despair and resolves to turn his life around. Tim, often his own worst enemy, will gain readers' interest and sympathy. The book contains a manageable number of British expressions and unfamiliar slang, but the main difficulty is in the frequent shifts in point of view, especially early in the story. Tim is given to Walter Mitty-type reveries that comprise entire chapters. Branwell Bronte also has a voice, but his first-person, formal narration is easier to distinguish than Tim's third-person narration. The constant shifts in time and the changes from Tim's real world to his fantasy one may put off many readers. Still, the book will be rewarding to readers willing to exert a little extra effort, for it's a first-rate story, and something different from run-of-the-mill problem novels. --Bruce Anne Shook, Mendenhall Middle School, Greensboro, NC
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
