"A Curse So Dark and Lonely" is a young adult fantasy novel that is primarily targeted towards teenagers. Written by Brigid Kemmerer, the book explores the story of Harper, a teenage girl from modern-day Washington D.C., who finds herself transported to a cursed kingdom called Emberfall. In Emberfall, she encounters Prince Rhen, who has been cursed to repeat the same season over and over again until a girl falls in love with him. The age group for "A Curse So Dark and Lonely" is primarily teenagers between the ages of 14 and 18.

Jamie and the Magic Torch

‘Jaym-eeeee, Jaym-eee, Jaym-ee and the Magic Torch!’ There can’t be many children of the late 1970s who don’t still feel a flush of nostalgia on hearing the instantly recognisable, guitar-heavy, rocking theme tune of Jamie and the Magic Torch. Migraine-inducing psychedelic colours fleshed out the basic, shuddery but cute animation that accompanied this strange little programme, with its eccentric characters and very often insane dialogue. It was narrated by Brian Trueman who, along with the wonderful production of Cosgrove Hall, also brought Chorlton and the Wheelies, Dangermouse and Count Duckula (amongst others) to life.

The first view you got of Jamie’s real-life world felt like the intro to a horror film; a moon-lit suburban street, accompanied by ever-so-slightly creepy piano music, a cat yowling and an owl hooting. Zooming up the side of a house, you then entered a window (which had a warm yellow light emanating through it from the outside, but actually was a room with no light on once you got inside!) and saw Jamie for the first time. Everything seemed normal; just another little boy being tucked up at the end of a busy day. The shadow of Jamie’s always-unseen mother said ‘Sleep well Jamie’ before leaving him snuggled under his blanket, seemingly to begin a good night’s snooze. Unbeknownst to her however, Jamie had other ideas. Once his door was closed his English Sheepdog Wordsworth appeared from under his bed with the Magic Torch of the programme’s title in his mouth. Jamie turned on the torch, opening up a disco-lit sparkling portal in his bedroom floor just where the light hit it, which led to a stripy helter-skelter. Jamie threw himself down it with enthusiasiam, Wordsworth following slightly more reluctantly (possibly because the hole was just slightly smaller than he was) and after an unfeasibly long ride down the slide they bounced out on to a trampoline and into the bonkers world of Cuckoo Land.

Purple trees, blue mountains, multi-coloured toadstools and orange skies provided the background for this world of strange and eccentric characters. During their time there Jamie and Wordsworth encountered Officer Gotcha, a policeman on a unicycle who ate truncheons; Wellybob, a large and frazzled-looking Scottish cat who did everything backwards, and Strumpers Plunkett, who was never short of a tune to play on his trumpet-shaped nose. Mr Boo couldn’t stop counting things, the Yoo-hoo Bird couldn’t stop pranking Officer Gotcha and Nutmeg the rag doll kept an assortment of objects in her pockets. There was also Jo-Jo Help, an unhandy handyman who appeared through a hole in the ground whenever the word ‘help’ was mentioned but was never actually available at that precise moment to be able to give you a hand. The last crazy citizen was Bully Bundy, a giant-footed rabbit with show business pretentions; he would often burst theatrically out of his top hat and begin quoting Shakespeare. Well, why not?

Jamie was always polite, and spent his time trying to sort out their problems with the aid of his torch’s magical properties. Wordsworth offered his own helpful ideas and provided a witty and often slightly cynical commentary (yes, he was able to talk and, for no apparent reason other than presumably it sounds funnier, has a West Country accent) on the inhabitants – most of them are described as ‘bloomin’ cuckoo!’

At the end of their adventure Jamie and his faithful friend would reverse their journey (literally, the animation just ran backwards) back up the helter-skelter, through the portal back into his bedroom and into/under the bed respectively. From out of shot you then heard his mum say ‘Settle down now Jamie. Come on Wordsworth, out of there,’ which implied that time in Cuckoo Land works slightly differently to that of Jamie’s real life and he hadn’t been missed. You left Jamie asleep – and presumably no dream he went on to have could be more peculiar than what he had just witnessed.

It ran from 1976 to 1979 on Thames Television; three series and 39 weird and wonderful episodes that enthralled children and left their parents slightly mystified.

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Anyone remember jamie and the magic torch?

For years ive been looking through the digital channels for this little gem of a show but its never repeated, why?

Right at the begining of each episode there is a little haunting bit of music as we see a suburban street and then a close up of a house bedroom window and, then the magic begins.:D

What a great little show.

The age group for "A Curse So Dark and Lonely" is primarily teenagers between the ages of 14 and 18. This age group is the primary target audience for young adult novels, as they can relate to the coming-of-age themes and struggles faced by the characters. The book tackles important themes such as identity, self-acceptance, and the power of love.

Comments

Yeah I remember it, mainly for the theme tune though.

There's episodes on YouTube if you wanna watch it again.

The opening titles used to scare me when I was little.

But then, when I was little, just about everything scared me.

great show! didn't they have a cop with a single wheel instead of legs and a flashing light on his hat? wordsworth was fantastic. so laid back and chilled.

quality program. on youtube there are some episodes posted. worth watching just for nostalgia reasons. plus it had the best theme tune to any kids proggy ever.

Thought of the theme tune as soon as I saw the title
Rocky soundtrack and the psychedelic colours of the helter skelter.

I blame Crystal Tipps for my attraction to ladies with curly unruly bobs.

For years ive been looking through the digital channels for this little gem of a show but its never repeated, why?

Right at the begining of each episode there is a little haunting bit of music as we see a suburban street and then a close up of a house bedroom window and, then the magic begins.:D

What a great little show.

Here just for you.

And this as well

I may have been born in the USA but we did get to see some great classic 70's cartoons.One question though why do the Flumps look like big hairy bruised testicles?

Jamie And The Magic Torch - Main Theme

Listen to Jamie And The Magic Torch - Main Theme online. Jamie And The Magic Torch - Main Theme is an English language song and is sung by Geek Music. Jamie And The Magic Torch - Main Theme, from the album Jamie And The Magic Torch - Main Theme, was released in the year 2018. The duration of the song is 1:42. Download English songs online from JioSaavn.

1m 42s · English

Teenagers in this age group often grapple with their own sense of self and navigate the complexities of love and relationships, making them more inclined to appreciate and connect with the story's central themes. Furthermore, within this age group, "A Curse So Dark and Lonely" resonates particularly well with young female readers. Harper, the female protagonist, is a strong and determined character who defies societal expectations and is unafraid to challenge the status quo. The novel's female readers can see themselves in Harper's shoes as she grapples with her own strengths and finds her place in a male-dominated world. Overall, "A Curse So Dark and Lonely" appeals to teenagers as it presents relatable characters and addresses relevant and universal themes. The book acts as an escape for readers, transporting them into a fantastical world while still addressing the struggles and emotions they may encounter in their own lives. This age group can find solace in the characters' journeys and perhaps draw inspiration from Harper's resilience and courage..

Reviews for "Empathy and Understanding in 'A Curse So Dark and Lonely"

1. Emily - 2 out of 5 stars - I was really disappointed with "A Curse So Dark and Lonely." I found the characters to be flat and uninteresting, and the plot seemed to drag on without any real direction. I also had a hard time connecting with the protagonist, as her actions and decisions often felt forced and unrealistic. Overall, I felt like this book didn't live up to the hype and I wouldn't recommend it to others.

2. Michael - 1 out of 5 stars - "A Curse So Dark and Lonely" was a complete letdown for me. I couldn't get past the unrealistic world-building and the predictable plot. The characters lacked depth and their relationships felt forced. I expected more from this book, especially considering the positive reviews it has received, but unfortunately, it fell short for me. I would not recommend it.

3. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars - I really wanted to enjoy "A Curse So Dark and Lonely," but I found it to be a cliché and predictable retelling of Beauty and the Beast. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any real development. The romance felt forced and lacked chemistry. I didn't find anything unique or thought-provoking in this book and it left me disappointed. Overall, I wouldn't recommend it to others.

4. Andrew - 2 out of 5 stars - I had high hopes for "A Curse So Dark and Lonely," but it didn't deliver. The pacing was off, with too much time spent on relationships and not enough on world-building or action. The dialogue felt unnatural and the characters lacked depth. I also found the romance to be cheesy and unrealistic. I struggled to connect with the story and ultimately felt let down. I wouldn't recommend this book.

Exploring Fantasy Elements in 'A Curse So Dark and Lonely