What was the book?

December 2, 2005 11:45 AM

Help me identify a young adults sci-fi/fantasy book I borrowed from the Bookmobile over a decade ago. Contains the line: "one of the five!"

All I really remember about the book is the ending, in which the teenage hero discovers he has superpowers (e.g., he blasts doors out of his way with telekinesis). Once his enemy realizes the hero's powers he says "one of the five!" - this enemy ends up drowning in a pool of acid. For some reason I have always thought this book had some connection to the series that starts with "The Dark is Rising".

Long shot, I know. Thanks if you can help, I've wondered about this for years.

posted by lbergstr to writing & language (9 comments total)

I don't know what it is, but I'm certain it's not part of Susan Cooper's "The Dark is Rising" series.
posted by advil at 11:57 AM on December 2, 2005

I don't recall any pools of acid in Susan Cooper's books, and someone from the Dark had made a comment like the one you mention, they would have said that the character was one of six, not five [a rhyme about the Signs starts out with When the Dark is rising / Six shall turn it back / Three from the Circle / Three from the track....] Cooper's work is more magic and Arthurian fantasy than telekinesis and superpowers anyways. No idea what your book might be, but I really don't think it's one of Cooper's.
posted by ubersturm at 11:58 AM on December 2, 2005

"The Dark is Rising" is actually the second book in a series by Susan Cooper. Though I don't know if that scene was in one of those five books.
posted by GuyZero at 11:59 AM on December 2, 2005

Geez, doube-beat.
posted by GuyZero at 11:59 AM on December 2, 2005

How about The Devil's Door-Bell? I Googled book boy "he is one of the five" +powers. Another description here.
posted by Gator at 2:01 PM on December 2, 2005

GATOR YOU DID IT
posted by lbergstr at 5:18 PM on December 2, 2005

Thanks so much. Your Google-fu is superior!
posted by lbergstr at 5:18 PM on December 2, 2005

I am now tempted to post questions like "I'm thinking of a number between one and a million, tell me what it is", I bet AskMe would get it in five tries.
posted by lbergstr at 5:29 PM on December 2, 2005

Spiffy! Glad I could help (that "one of the five" line was crucial).
posted by Gator at 5:40 PM on December 2, 2005