Breadcrumbs

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu


I fell in love with the cover and the title when this book first appeared on the shelf. I knew it would be about fairy tales, and retold tales is one of my preferred genres. Sadly, this book did not meet my expectations. I expected Hansel and Gretel with trails of crumbs in the woods, but it's about friends instead of siblings, snow and ice instead of a candy cottage. It's a retelling of Andersen's Snow Queen. (I plan to go and re-read his original story.)

The text was deep and thoughtful, so I would recommend this story for older elementary students. Hazel struggles with fitting into her new school and overcoming being alone. This storyline can help loners, but it might also drag them down depending on their mood. She does overcome her alone-ness and fights for her friend, Jack, who appreciates being saved from the Snow Queen.

Kirby Heyborne narrated Breadcrumbs. As the story unfolded, I appreciated Heyborne's talent. At the beginning, his different characters blended together for me, but as more characters were introduced his voices broadened. I would listen to another audio by Heyborne.


Reviewed from a library copy.

Audio Book Details...
Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
Read by Kirby Heyborne
Produced by Listening Library
Number of Discs: 7
Total Time: 7 hours, 47 minutes
ISBN: 9780449014004

Mr. Lincoln's High-Tech War

Mr. Lincoln's High-tech War by Thomas B. Allen


The Civil War is of great interest to thousands of Americans. It's a war that divided the nation. Authors Thomas B. Allen and Roger Macbride Allen focused on the war, but with a new aspect - the technology of the times. The main theme is technology and how Lincoln loved it and utilized it when possible.

For any Civil War enthusiast or history lover, this is an excellent non-fiction piece. The Allens shared information about Lincoln's patent (the only President to have one), the telegraph, the railroad, hot air balloons, the navy, and more. It's a fascinating look into history and how history influenced today's machinery and war tactics. I would recommend this title to anyone, whether they're young students or retired adults.

Fred Sullivan narrates Allen's book. It's an easy listen on the ears. The text doesn't call for dynamic reading, but Sullivan adds a bit of flair when needed. I would listen to a book narrated by Sullivan again.

Reviewed from an Audiobook Jukebox copy. Thank you, AudioGo!

Audio Book Details...
Mr. Lincoln's High-Tech War by Thomas B. Allen
Read by Fred Sullivan
Produced by AudioGo
Number of Discs: MP3 Download
Total Time: 4 hours, 10 minutes
ISBN: 9781620648759