From School Library Journal
Grade 6-8--The Burnhope Wheel is reminiscent of William Sleator's Into the Dream (Dutton, 1979) , but in this case Ellen and Dave, who are dreaming the same dream, don't know what roles are intended for them in that dream. Their adventure begins when a bus, mysteriously appearing to be waiting for Ellen, first takes her to the old Burnhope lead mine, which has a mesmerizing attraction for her. When she later sees an antique photograph of two miners, and keeps hearing the plea, "Let me out to the day," running through her mind, Ellen realizes that one of the dead miners is controlling her mind in order to manipulate the latent violence in her, although she doesn't understand why. She and Dave are eventually led to the treasure which caused the tragic death of the brothers 100 years before, and which almost leads to the same fate for them on the frightening night when the mine comes alive and the spirit of the greedy miner almost wins Ellen's mind. Teens will empathize with Ellen's antagonism, resulting from her withdrawal from a world she sees as violent and insane, although Gates does overanalyze it, and occasionally plot and dialogue ring false so that the story loses its tension. Still, the novel has some very exciting moments that will attract readers of the supernatural. --Susan F. Marcus, Pollard Middle School, Needham, MA
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