Devil's Children

by Peter Dickinson

Book Overview

After the mysterious Changes begin, twelve-year-old Nicola finds herself abandoned and wandering in an England where everyone has suddenly developed a horror and hatred of machines. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385294492
• ISBN13: 9780385294492
• Release Date: May 1986
• Publisher: Delacorte Press
• Length: 187 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

An interesting jaunt into fantasy

This book is a great diversion for a few days entertainment. I have never been a huge fan of fantasy, but I appreciated this novel and what it had to offer. First off, I'd like to say that the other review on this site is wrong. The synopsis is for the SECOND book in the series (Heartsease), and not "The Devil's Children." This book begins in a cryptic manner, and intriguingly, ends that way, too. The beginning and end of this book were what held me, although the story within the pages is exciting and interesting as well. The story revolves around young Nicola Gore, who has been separated from her family during the "Changes." The Changes is a vaguely described as a time when machinery must end because of the effect it has on English humans. England reverts to medieval times, employing the use of blacksmiths and the like, and ridding their world of all machinery like tractors, guns, and alarm clocks. Nicola returns home to wait for her parents, but after 28 days, leaves with a traveling band of Sikhs. This book expands on her adventures with the new people and their trials and tribulations. It also deals with the pain of Nicky being separated from her family, putting up barriers around her heart, and learning to live independantly. I won't give away the exciting points of the book. It will suffice to say that there are moments where the book gets gorey and viscious, but never to the point of needing to shield a young adult reader from the book. Peter Dickinson is a delightful author. He writes incredibly well and I am very happy to have finally read one of his books. I intend to continue reading the series. I would recommend this book for any younger reader interested in different ways of life. It is not fantasy like "The Lord of the Rings" or "Harry Potter." It is much more likely to happen than either of those. (Although both of the others are wonderful reads, as well.) Overall, I give this book 4 stars. It had moments of dead time that could have been more interesting.

Classic fantasy suitable for all ages

The first book in The Changes Trilogy, The Devil's Children starts Margret and Jonathan's quest through a 'changed' England in which everyone, except a chosen few, is deathly and irrationally afraid of technology. Margret is one of the few who have noticed the changes and she must run or be executed as a witch. Her quest: to find out what went wrong, and a possible remedy