When the Dark comes rising, six shall turn it back;
Three from the circle, three from the track;
Wood, bronze, iron; water fire, stone;
Five will return, and one go alone.

Iron for the birthday, bronze carried long;
Wood from the burning, stone out of song;
Fire in the candle-ring, water from the thaw;
Six Signs the circle, and the grail gone before.

Fire on the mountain shall find the harp of gold;
Played to wake the Sleepers, oldest of the old;
Power from the green witch, lost beneath the sea;
All shall find the light at last, silver on the tree.

by Susan Cooper

In this series, modern 20th century children find themselves caught up in an ancient battle between good and evil. The stories in this series are related to Arthurian legends.

It begins with Simon, Jane, and Barney Drew, who discover the secret of a hidden grail inscribed with the true story of King Arthur and hidden for centuries. They are aided by an old family friend, Professor Merriman Lyon, called Great-Uncle Merry, who also appears in other books as a friend and mentor to the children who find themselves fighting the forces of evil.

Later, Merriman becomes a mentor to Will Stanton, who discovers on his eleventh birthday that he is one of the Old Ones, gifted with magical powers. Will is the youngest of the Old Ones, the last that will ever be born, and Merriman is the oldest of them. Merriman Lyon’s cover for most of the world is being an Oxford University professor who spends much of his time traveling the world and researching and finding ancient ruins.

The three Drew children meet Will Stanton in the third book in the series. At first, they don’t like him much because they think he’s interfering in their mission with their Uncle Merry, not knowing yet that Will has special powers and is directly involved in the fight against the Dark as their ally.

Later, Will also meets a boy named Bran, who turns out to be the son of King Arthur, brought from the distant past to the 20th century as a baby by his mother Guinevere and Merriman because Guinevere was uncertain whether Arthur would accept Bran as his son after her infidelity and because she wanted him to grow up safely away from his parents’ troubles. Bran becomes instrumental in the battle against the Dark, and he also comes to choose the time period where he really belongs.

The series was written by Susan Cooper. One of the books in the series, The Dark is Rising, is a Newbery Honor Book, and The Grey King is a Newbery Medal Winner.

Books in the Series:

Over Sea, Under Stone (1965)

The Drew children are on a holiday in Cornwall when they find an old manuscript with a map that leads to a treasure and a battle between good and evil.

The Dark is Rising (1973)

On his eleventh birthday, Will Stanton learns that he has special powers and a destiny that he never imagined.

Greenwitch (1974)

When the grail that the Drew children found in the first book is stolen by the forces of the Dark, the Drews join their Uncle Merry and Will Stanton in Cornwall to find it.

The Grey King (1975)

Will Stanton travels to Wales, where he must find the harp to wake the Sleepers.

Silver on the Tree (1977)

The forces of the Light face off against the forces of the Dark.