Candle Dark

by Carole Anne Carr

Joshua was nearly eleven and he d worked down the Blists Hill coal pit since he was seven and a bit. He hated it down there. He hated working in the dark, he hated the rats and the stink of the tunnels, and he especially hated it when the mine flooded and his wet boots rubbed his feet raw. Then on the day that Bradley the horsekeeper gave him another beating so bad he ached all over, he made up his mind to run away and find work on the Severn trows. But what would happen to poor Drummer, left behind in the dark What would happen to his mum and sisters if he left them to the mercy of the evil Isaac Whitlock And how could he sail to Bristol, when his dad had been set to work in the most dangerous part of the mine Afraid of the river gangs and worrying about his dad, Joshua must decide whether to run for his life, or to stay in Coalport and try to protect his family.

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

I publish novels and shorter stories for children aged 4 to 14.
After early retirement from teaching, I now write full time - books for children, and books and poetry for grownups.

My children's historical fiction is used by universities and schools in the UK and in many parts of the world.

Member of the Society of Authors.

Now completed MA in literature.

Website:
http://caroleannecarr.co.uk

Email:,caroleannecarr@btinternet.com

Reviews

[Clarissa Draper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eleven year old Joshua has a big decision to make. Does he continue to work in a mine, a mine he is afraid of or does he escape and work on the Severn trows?

They story is based on real life. When children had to work long, hard days in the coal pits. I could feel the fear Billy and Joshua felt when they had to descend into the darkness and when they got lost in the tunnels. When the explosion rocked the cave and they had to fight each other to escape the thin tunnels, it had me on the edge of my seat.

This book will thrill both young and old alike. I'm glad the story was written, it talks about a time when many children had very hard, scary, and short lives. You won't be able to put the story down until it's done.

[Medeia Sharif · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joshua is a child working in a coalmine, a dangerous job for anyone, but with the circumstances surrounding the protagonist, there’s added peril. The adults around Joshua are abusive, particularly an aggressive thief named Isaac. Also, he’s expected to take care of his family if anything were to happen to his father, who also works in the mine. The suspense mounts as Joshua faces one heart-stopping situation after another. The author created a realistic historical setting and a sympathetic main character.