Rating: 
Summary: The best book I have ever read
Review: This book is magical and fun. I loved how the reader views Polly as she is growing older. This makes the characters raw and well defined. I have read this 3 times and it is always as enjoyable. I cannot wait to get my own copy. This incredible story of a Mans cry for help towars a small girl, only to make matters worse with his destiny. Jen Lofthus (14)
Rating: 
Summary: This book [is bad]
Review: This book [is so bad] so much I used it for fire-wood! Books like this should be illegal! Arghhhh! Burn! It was so confusing I sent to Einstien and he didn't understand it! For all I knew it was written in zraglefresk (aka jibber jabber ) The main character was stupid, all the other characters are stupid, the setting is stupid, the book is stupid, and I was stupid to read it! Not even my dog would eat it! Read it and your eyes will burn out! Not only that, we have to do a skit on it! Flowers and chocolate can be sent to 1800 thisbookisstupid road, stupidbook city, usa. You have been prewarned...
Rating:
Summary: Don't Judge by its Cover
Review: This is a lovely book--it has been one of my favorites since I was a child. I read it every year around Halloween, and every year it seems more complex and wonderful.I was very excited when I heard that it was to be reprinted after so many years. Finally, I thought, the world will have the chance to experience this wonderful book. Then I saw the new cover, and I was horrified. It is awful, and completely misleading as to the nature of the story. If this had been the original cover, I would never have picked up the book in the first place. Now I am afraid that Fire and Hemlock will be passed up by readers who would cherish it, if they only knew what lies within its murky cover. This would serve the foolish publishers right--but not the author, not the story, and not poor Tom and Polly. If you do decide to buy this book--and it's worth it, really it is--then I suggest you construct a book cover to mask the real cover's ugliness. Either that, or convince yourself that the glaring faces staring out at you are the evil Laurel and Morton Leroy--not Polly and Tom at all. This is Diana Wynne Jones' best work--haunting, thought-provoking, even life-altering for some. It sings with truth and magic. Please don't judge it by its terrible cover!
Rating:
Summary: The Perfect Story
Review: This is my favorite book of all time. I first read it when I was twelve years old, and I have re-read it at least ten times since then. I love all of Diana Wynne Jones's books, but this one moves me in a way that the others do not. I think that is because Polly is the kind of person that I would like to be, and Thomas Lin is the kind of man that I would like to meet. I can't understand how this book is out of print. It is a true loss to the world.
Rating: 
Summary: Other Tam Lin
Review: This is my second book from Ms Jones after the Howl's Moving Castle (a magical romantic story :). I think the main idea still maintained the romantic side and yet the main plot of wellknown Tam Lin was given a bit fresh twist.
In here, the man in trouble was called Thomas Lynn and the heroine was Polly. It was said the relationship between them took 4 years to grow and that certainly gives the intensity of it. After the 4th year, something bad happened and Polly found herself forgetting all about Thomas. Fortunately, a book brought her memory bits by bits though it was not intended to. From here the wild chase started.
The fairy world was represented in the family Thomas Lyn related to, which kept reminding me of the mafia (only-family meetings, big crowds).
There was a bit confusing twist happened in the end of the story which why I gave only 4 stars. The end was not a bad one, original one I should say, but you have to pay extra attention to the words.
Rating:
Summary: Calling fans of Tam Lin!
Review: This is one of my favorite books, by one of my favorite authors. It's related to the folk stories of Tam Lin and Thomas the Rhymer, set very well in modern times (OK, at least the 1960s, maybe later). Having Polly start out young, interacting with Thomas as a child to an adult, and changing their relationship as she ages, was something I really enjoyed. I read it around age 12 and loved it; more recently I read it in my 20s and had to read the ending twice to be satisfied with it, but the second time I was greatly pleased--so if you don't like the end, reread it. If you have read this and liked it, I also recommend _Tam Lin_ by Pamela Dean.
Rating:
Summary: Rewards rereading
Review: This is one of my favourites by Diana Wynne Jones, narrowly pipped by Deep Secret and Howl's Moving Castle as top favourite. The ending is complex, as others have noted, but once you get a grip on two givens, then you can work out what happened.
1. Unlike the traditional Tam Lin story, Polly CAN'T win by "holding on".
2. The answer lies in paradox. Since Polly and Tom can't be together "nowhere", it follows they must be able to be together "somewhere".
It's that simple.
Rating:
Summary: highly enjoyable
Review: This was my favorite book when I was in junior high. It's a great story and if like it you should definately read the Wolves of Willowby Chase by Joan Aiken or the series of Unfortunate Events books. All are great kids books.
Rating:
Summary: Magic and Mystery
Review: This was the first Diana Wynn-Jones book that I read, and while it's not my absolute favorite (that honor probably goes to Howl's Moving Castle) I loved it enough to re-read it at least 6 or 7 times in the last 8 years. This book, like practically all of Diana Wynn-Jones' books, mixes the ordinary, dull world that we know with another world full of magic and danger. These worlds exist along side each other, rarely intersecting. The book follows Polly from childhood into adulthood as she is befriended by Mr.Thomas Lynn and becomes entagled in a deadly ancient ritual of faerie. Loosley based on the fairy story of Tam Lin, the book features a cast of engaging characters. Polly's Granny has a deep secret, Nina and Fiona are Polly friends as Polly grows and changes, and Thomas and his musician friends all have distinct and interesting personalities. Lovers of fantasy and folklore will appreciate this book. The last section of the book was confusing on my first read through, but that didn't lessen my liking for Fire and Hemlock. On the contrary, I admire Diana Wynne Jones' skill at pulling me into her alternate world, and keeping me interested enough to re-read the book and discover more and more nuances I missed before. Buy this book, and then get Howl's Moving Castle & the Chronicles of Chrestomanci!
Rating:
Summary: I loved this!
Review: With a sudden flash, college-aged Polly remembers her old friend Thomas Lynn, and realizes it's been years since she thought of him. It's almost like he's been erased from her memory, she thinks. Strange, since as she delves deeper into her memories, he turns out to have been her best friend, and the one bright spot in a very difficult adolescence. Trying to solve the mystery of why he has vanished from her life, she asks around, only to find that none of her friends or family remember him either--they think Thomas was an imaginary friend she made up. Was he? Or has something else happened? And if he is real, where has he gone? Diana Wynne Jones draws us into her spell with this novel, never letting us put it down. The story gets more and more intricate as is progresses, making less and less sense, and we are captivated, unable to turn away until we know what's going on. An excellent book, complex and moving. Heaps of stars.
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