We Hold These Truths

We Hold These Truths by Andrew Clements

We Hold These Truths is the final installment of Benjamin Pratt & and the Keepers of the School. The final days of school are here and it's now or never for the Keepers to find the final safeguards.

I have been waiting to listen to this book! The Keepers needed to find two more safeguards and the end of school is days away when the last book ended. The pressure builds and Ben finds himself in a new role as manager. The Keepers' plans need to be bigger, bolder, and faster. They also need to stay on the right side of the law. I hesitate to say too much about the storyline because I don't want to give any spoilers or potential spoilers. Relationships do become tense between Keepers and between Janitors. The ending was satisfying. Clements wrapped it up nicely and gave a look to the future as well.

For previous Keeper readers, this is an exciting conclusion to the end of the series. For new Keepers, this final title is exciting as well because all the books are available! There is no need to wait! Check them all out at the library and listen to one right after the other. It's a great story for elementary students and families.

Narrator Keith Nobbs finishes the Keepers series. Thank you, Simon & Schuster for completing the series with one narrator! Nobbs performance was still enjoyable. He maintained the character voices and personalities that he began with We the Children in 2010.

Reviewed from an Audiobook Jukebox copy. Thank you, Simon & Schuster Audio!

Audio Book Details...
We Hold These Truths by Andrew Clements
Series: Book 5, Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School
Read by Keith Nobbs
Produced by Simon & Schuster Audio
Number of Discs: 4
Total Time: 4 hours, 30 minutes
ISBN: 9781442357044

Three Years of Audiobooks

Adolescent Audio Adventures began on February 25, 2011. I wanted to share my joy of audiobooks with others who enjoy listening to books. It's been another amazing audio year and it's time to take stock of all the books I heard over 2013. Let's break it down...


Juvenile Fiction [estimated trt: 4 days, 12 hours, 5 minutes]

We Hold These Truths
Wonder
Twelve Kinds of Ice
Children of the Dust Bowl
The Case of the Time-Capsule Bandits
Ghost Hawk
P. K. Pinkerton and the Petrified Man
The Pirate's Coin
Bread Crumbs
Mr. Lincoln's High-Tech War
In Harm's Way
A Tangle of Knots
The One and Only Ivan
The Mighty Miss Malone
Iron Hearted Violet
Jingo Django
Small Steps
In a Glass Grimmly
Liar & Spy



Adult [trt: 17 hours, 26 minutes]
Dad is Fat
Last Child in the Woods

21 books (and over 125 hours) were counted in this year's review.  One more title than last year, but a few hours difference. Quite a surprise to figure out each year's summary. The most memorable titles when I look back at the list include Last Child in the Woods, The Mighty Miss Malone, Mr. Lincoln's High-Tech War, Island of Silence, A Tangle of Knots, and the last books from the Keepers of the School series.

This year I am looking forward to Island of Fire, A Grimm Conclusion, P.K. Pinkerton and the Pistol-Packing Widows, the final Books of Beginning title and the titles available this summer at Audiobook SYNC. What book or books are you looking forward to hearing this year?

Twelve Kinds of Ice

Twelve Kinds of Ice by Ellen Bryan Obed


"Twelve kinds of ice are carved into twenty vignettes, each exulting the beauty of ice and ice skating that comes year after year" - from audiobook back

Ellen Bryan Obed reflects and shares her childhood wonder of different kinds of ice. It begins with a thin layer that cracks when touched and end with dreams of ice. It's a short and endearing book that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Obed shares her childhood Winter experiences that today's audience can enjoy and associated with their own Winter experiences. It might be difficult for warm weather readers who haven't experienced icy sports or freezing weather, but it can lead them on new adventures!

If the reader/listener chooses to listen without the book, the classical illustrations by Barbara McClintock will be missed. She drew beautiful pictures in pen and ink. I would recommend having the book and audiobook paired together.

Narrator Jessica Almasy reads Obed's story very well. She conveys the sense of wonder with each different kind of ice. I appreciated that aspect. The pauses between chapters were a breath to long for me, but it's because each ends with an ellipsis(...). As I said, it's a personal pause preference and don't let it stop you from enjoying this wonderful Winter story.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Audio Book Details...
Twelve Kinds of Ice by Ellen Bryan Obed
Read by Jessica Almasy
Produced by Recorded Books
Number of Discs: 1
Total Time: .25 hours
ISBN: 9781470363864