Jeremy Visick: A Gripping Adventure About Loyalty and Destiny Across Time in Cornwall for Children

by David Wiseman

When Matthew Clemens ventured into the churchyard to gather information about the Cornish miners buried there, one gravestone in particular seemed to call his attention. The inscription was to Reuben Visick and his two eldest sons, all three killed in a mining accident more than a hundred years before. But below the inscription were the words that echoed again and again in Matthew’s head: “And to Jeremy Visick, His Son, Age 12, Whose Body Still Lies in Wheal Maid.” The lines were as clear to Matthew as if he’d heard them spoken. Night after night they drew him to the churchyard, or to the outbuilding behind the Clemens home, where Jeremy Visick had lived, until Matthew began to sense that somehow his destiny and Jeremy Visick’s were inexorably intertwined.
Jeremy Visick is an irresistible and gripping adventure story about loyalty and one boy’s commitment to another across time.

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Historical, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Middle Grade

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

Reviews

[82heureux · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeremy Visicks by David Wiseman is about a boy named Mathew Clemens who was happy before but when he goes to a new school he gets an assignment to look at a gravestone in the graveyard but when he gets there he gets interested in another gravestone about the visicks. It says that the dad and three boys were killed but one of the boys is still in the mine. since this happened 150 years ago Mathew is surprised that they never found the boys body so he feels really bad for him. One day he can't go to sleep at night so he looks out the window and he sees the visicks stone from his room and he hears the visick's stone talking.
This book does not have that much action in it but it has alot of drama with mathew seeing alot of strange things about the visicks. This book is really interesting and it was hard for me to put it down. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy mysterious stories or ghost stories but you should know that it is not that scary. It may sound like it is scary but there isn't much scary moments. If you ever get a chance to you should check out this book.

[Kevin Lucia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been a Holy Grail of mine for decades - it's a fairly standard YA ghost story, the title of which was lost to me, but its final image - that of Jeremy Visik's skeleton clutching Matthew's leg, as Matthew has lead his body to the surface, so it can be laid to rest - has stuck with me my entire life. It was very likely the first "horror" story I ever read. Upon re-read, definitely a standard YA novel. But one of my earliest inspirations, and I'm glad I finally figured out the title and tracked it down.

[Kressel Housman · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book that begins with a bored kid in a history class who is destined to discover via time travel that history really is about life itself is a winning theme for me, but the author took so long in getting to the actual time travel, I just gave up in the middle. I understand the author has an advanced degree in history. No doubt, he knew his subject - British coal miners - very well, but a creative writing course could have made this a much more engrossing read.

[K.C. Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matthew Clemens, his best friend Mary, and the dead boy who titles the book are the main characters in this chilling story set in England in the 1950s. The author uses a descriptive style, using the senses to describe the character’s surroundings. Many times the main action of the story is through the thoughts of the characters. Part of what makes the story interesting is not knowing if something is being imagined by Matthew or if it is really happening. The theme in the story is strength and how far one will go to help a friend. Children most interested in this tale would be ten or eleven years old. Gender roles are stereotypical in this story, since it is historical. Despite the stereotypes, Mary is a very strong female character. This book could be used with students in social studies to discuss the working conditions of children in the 1800s.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I got this book as a child at the gift shop of an old copper mine in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. That's very appropriate since the same people who mined copper in those mines also mined copper in Cornwall where this book is set.

I remember being very gripped by the imagery of this book and Matthew's adventure underground. The cover art on this edition (paperback from 1981 or 1990) is also great and it sets the right atmosphere. However, rereading it as an adult, there is a lot of meandering buildup and his adventure is almost over before it begins. Maybe I combined it with Tom Sawyer's adventure underground ... but I haven't read that book in a while either. Maybe that, too, was short and quickly-resolved. I gave this an extra star because it was written for a younger audience and because at the time it was good enough for me to remember 25 years later.

[Arkrayder · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have searched for this book for over three decades. I remember borrowing the book from my towns tiny library (a whole new bigger library has taken its place since), and that the story was about the ghost of a boy whose bones were brought out of a mine by another boy of similar age. That was it. I finally found it after moving to a different continent. It’s not the greatest prose ever but it holds memories and having finally solved the mystery of what the title of the book was feels good too.

[Marcie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An intriguing tale possessing elements of history, time travel, and the supernatural. In addition, Jeremy Visick traces a young boy's developing commitment to a journey that is difficult for him to understand and explain but knows his pursuit will make right.

[Marsha Valance · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a seamless fairy tale, Matthew is drawn across time to help a boy his own age, lost in a Cornish mining disaster a century earlier.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this back in middle school or high school so I’m not sure why I suddenly remembered the name “Jeremy Visick”, but I know I really loved it at the time.

[Anna Mariya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a touching book especially last chapter.

[Katie Brohard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun ghost story that makes you think about history and isn't too spooky or gory.

[kelly Challans · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read for anyone First read this book when I was about 13 and I still keep going back to it even now its one of my favourite books.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe just shy of four stars. I particularly liked this tale because there is nothing particularly special about the 12 year old protagonist, except what is special about every child - he is likeable, annoying, has school and family and friends - no cooks or cleaners and no tragic deaths in the family - just happens to live in a time and place where amongst the difficult and often short lives of the mining community of 150 years ago - there is unfinished business. I hesitate to say ghosts, but definitely disturbance of the ether.

The largest copper mine in the UK was the South Caradon Copper Mine in Devon, although there is a Ting Tang Lane in Oxfordshire (Brize Norton). So I can't quite place where the book is set. There was copper mining in North West Wales as well as the South West of England. I feel like I should be able to track it down. The locals say 'come by' so that might narrow it down..... project for another day.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

We read this book in my first year of high school, and (in stark contrast to most of the books we were forced to read as part of the curriculum) 10 and a half years later I remember being gripped and very touched by it. The only real reason I haven't given it a 5th star is that I fear I may be impaired by the fondness for the time period, though I did re-read it recently and still found it a very good read.

[Scott Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book came up to my classroom from the sixth grade and I thought it looked interesting. There were only ten copies, so I brought this book up to the book club at the Jr. High. It has been a hit so far and I am glad this one came to my attention. I will probably also use it with a reading circle in the coming year.

The book is most definitely a British ghost story and has some great turns in it.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now that was avery refreshing thriller about a youg boy that travles back in time and discovers Jeremy and lives and well not really plays with him but he is acknowlaged to be there and "dies" with Jeremy good story good story........

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't really comment on how well-written this novel is. The last time I read it, I was in 6th grade. What I can tell you is that this was my go-to read as a kid. I am sure I checked it out and read it AT LEAST 10 times between 4th and 6th grade.

My favorite book from my childhood by far!

[Sheena Hocking · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book really intended for 12-year-olds, but I liked it a lot anyway. After all, so was Harry Potter.
It is set at Gwennap, near my home, and instils a great sense of the atmosphere, culture and history of the place.
It is also quite scary.

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing story about a 12 yr old boy drawn into the past and tragic story about dead copper mining boy. Creepy and good.

[Snail in Danger (Sid) Nicolaides · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting start, but it turned into a sort of bog standard spooky story with rather 2d characters.

[Jossie Solheim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book that really gripped me and one that I realise I had read before in school once I got started with it. A nice short read.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a short read, but fast paced.

[Adriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second time reading it: still a favourite.

[Michelle]

Listed as Q4 = Exceptional!, P3 = A booktalk on this title will excite most people’s interest