Horowitz, Anthony. Raven’s Gate. New York: Walker Books, 2005. ISBN: 1844286193
Plot Summary:
Matt Freeman, a 14-year-old orphan is sent to live in Yorkshire after being involved in an armed robbery in London. Matt is not a bad kid, but must live on a farm as part of a government program aiming at rehabilitating youth. Mrs. Deverill, the owner of the farm, seems creepy to Matt and the entire area around the farm seems evil to him, and most of the local villagers seem the same. Matt decides to try to escape, but he can’t seem to make it out of the area because he always ends up in the same place. He meets a local farmer and is trying to make sense out of all the strange occurrences such as the chanting he hears and the dreams he has of witches. The local farmer gives him a talisman and attempts to help Matt. The farmer winds up dead and leaves Matt the message “Raven’s Gate” in blood on a wall. Matt goes to the police and the murderers cover it up so well the police do not believe him, he makes contact with Richard, a local journalist, who does not believe him either but at least listens to the story. Matt is made to go back to live on the farm. A police officer that befriended the boy in London comes to check up on him and also ends up dead. Matt escapes to see a local abandoned power station and a witches’ ceremony taking place and he is discovered and pursued by a pair of demonic hounds.
Matt gets caught in a bog and is sinking under when he is able to use powers that he suspects he has to contact a passing motorist, the journalist Richard, who rescues him. Matt is sure he has powers but has no idea how to control them. Richard and Matt track down people who might give a clue to what Raven’s Gate might be. They are eventually put into contact with a secret society called the Nexus whose soul purpose is to keep Raven’s Gate closed. Raven’s Gate is a portal in which an evil empire that existed before recorded history exists. This gate can only be opened with the blood of someone who is special and has special powers. This is why Mrs. Deverill and the community of witches wanted to get Matt. Matt is recaptured after those who help him are killed or injured. The witches take him to the old power plant and begin to start the ritual involving an atomic explosion and the sacrifice of his life. Matt learns how to control his powers at the last moment. Matt and Richard escape, but are later approached by a member of the Nexus who says they will support the pair because they might need Matt’s help in the future as their might be another gate.
Critical Evaluation:
The story grabs one’s attention from the beginning and holds it all the way through the end. The plot builds and thickens in the few places where there is not a high level of action. The book is clearly meant to be a part of a series, and I look forward to reading the other four volumes. The book is somewhat dark and the main character never has anything happy occur during the story or even in the back story. Although this particular volume ends with the witches being defeated, one gets a clear sense that the evil Matt fought against is much larger than the Yorkshire contingent and that there is still evil out there.
Reader’s Annotation:
Matt is a juvenile offender with special powers. After being made to live on a farm in the country, Matt realizes that the farm and surrounding community are evil and are after him for some reason. Befriended by Richard Cole, a journalist, Matt tries to make his escape from the area and make sense out of the strange events of his life. He finds out that he is much more special than he ever thought and the challenge that awaits him is much greater than merely trying to escape.
Information about the author:
Anthony Horowitz is an English author of Jewish extraction who has over 50 books to his credit and has also written for the screen. Horowitz was born in Middlesex, England in 1956 to a wealthy family. He began writing from the age of six, professionally from twenty, and is still very much active. He was educated at the University of York, and received a BA in English Literature from that school.
Although Horowitz has written primarily for the young adult audience, he has also written a few works for adults which have been popular. Horowitz now lives in North London with his wife Jill. They are the parents of two sons. Horowitz is a patron of Kidscape, an agency dedicated to the protection of children.
Genre:
Sci-Fi/ Fantasy
Curriculum Ties:
N/A
Booktalking Ideas:
N/A
Booktalking Ideas:
1. Discuss the idea that people tend not to believe Matt because of his past as a juvenile offender.
2. Explore the concept of how the skeptical journalist and the youth become friends and how they interact.
3. Talk about the internal conflicts that the main character has concerning his powers.
Reading Level/Interest Age:
14+
Challenge Issues:
Mention of witchcraft
Challenge Defense Ideas:
1. Read the book.
2. Be Familiar with the policy of the ALA and your institution.
3. Make a note of the contents of the work and how they fall in with the collection development policy of your institution and the standpoint of the ALA.
4. Gain an awareness of the awards, reviews, and criticisms of the work, as well as other works by the same writer.
5. Know the process for materials challenges at your library.
Why did you include this book? :
The writer is so well known in the genre and I thought it would be appropriate to include on of his works.
Author’s Website:
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