The Wild Hunt of Hagworthy - Penelope Lively

Penelope Lively's The Wild Hunt of Hagworthy is the story of 12 year old Lucy who returns to Hagworthy after a five year absence to stay with her aunt for the summer. She becomes reacquainted with her old friends Caroline and Louise, who've turned horse-mad, and with Kester, who now goes to the local grammar school and is considered a misfit by many of the villagers. The vicar and Mrs Norton-Standen, the mother of Louise and Caroline are organising a Fete for the church restoration fund. The vicar wants to revive the ancient Horn Dance, despite opposition from some of the older village men. He and Mrs N-S get a dozen of the teenagers involved, but the Horn Dance is a dangerous rite and it invokes the mythical Wild Hunt which then possesses the teenage boys. They then hunt Kester, whom they don't like very much because he's so clever, and in doing so they bring Kester to the attention of the Wild Hunt. It's up to Lucy to try to save Kester, but can she reach him in time ? And does he want to be saved ?