Review: Art Matters

I checked out Art Matters by Neil Gaiman, because I do believe art matters. I also wanted to hear what Gaiman wanted to say about it. I was thrilled to see that he, again, narrated his own works. I really enjoy listening to his voice.

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Art Matters: Because Your Imagination Can Change the World is an excellent collection of articles on the importance, beauty, strength, and wonder of art. As I said, previously, I checked out the audiobook because I like listening to the author. I also checked out the book because I love Chris Riddell's art. I would highly recommend this book as well as the audiobook. I found myself wanting to highlight several passages and cheer aloud with the audiobook. The sketches AND the text throughout the book is written and drawn out beautifully. I'll wait for my own copy to mark up because I had a library edition. Gotta respect the property of others, my friends.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Audio Book Details...

Art Matters Because Your Imagination Can Change the World by Neil Gaiman

Read by Neil Gaiman

Produced by Recorded Books, LLC

Number of Discs: 1

Total Time: 49 minutes

Release Date: November 2018

ISBN: 9781982595241

Review: Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book

Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book by Jennifer Donnelly was a GoodReads Choice Award Nominee for Middle Grade & Children's in 2017. That was very intriguing to me. I was also interested to see if the story would follow the Disney version of Beauty and Beast. I can share that the main characters are the same, but the story is uniquely written. If you're a fan of fantasy, Disney, or fairy tales, I think you'll enjoy this story.

Here is the book description from Disney:

"Smart, bookish Belle, a captive in the Beast’s castle, has become accustomed to her new home and has befriended its inhabitants. When she comes upon Nevermore, an enchanted book unlike anything else she has seen in the castle, Belle finds herself pulled into its pages and transported to a world of glamour and intrigue. The adventures Belle has always imagined, the dreams she was forced to give up when she became a prisoner, seem within reach again.

The charming and mysterious characters Belle meets within the pages of Nevermore offer her glamorous conversation, a life of dazzling Parisian luxury, and even a reunion she never thought possible. Here Belle can have everything she ever wished for. But what about her friends in the Beast’s castle? Can Belle trust her new companions inside the pages of Nevermore? Is Nevermore’s world even real? Belle must uncover the truth about the book, before she loses herself in it forever."

The audiobook narrator for Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book is Jenna Augen. This is the second Beauty and the Beast book she has narrated, but the first one I have heard her narrate. It was a very enjoyable voice to hear. Her natural British accent added the perfect charm to this fairy tale story. There was a mix of male and female voices throughout the story as well as a variety of ages. I thought Augen did a great job. I was able to hear the differences between characters and her male voices were well done. I would listen to her read again.

Reviewed from a Blackstone Audio copy. Thank you, Audiobook Jukebox!
I received this audiobook for free and wrote an honest review.

Audio Book Details...
Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book by Jennifer Donnelly
Read by Jenna Augen
Produced by Disney / Blackstone Audio
Number of Discs: MP3 download (69 parts)
Total Time: 7 hours, 19 minutes
Release Date: March 2017
ISBN: 9781538468739

Review: Trolled

Trolled by Bruce Coville is the third installment in the series, The Enchanted Files. The first books is Cursed (or Diary of a Mad Brownie) and book two is Hatched.

Ned is a troll living and working in New York City. Cody is a sixth-grader living in New York City. How did they meet? Ned and Cody's father work at Grand Central Terminal (otherwise known as Grand Central Station). Their worlds collide with family history and enchantments.

Listen to a sample on the Listening Library website!

If you enjoyed the first two titles, you will be sure to enjoy this third installment of The Enchanted Files. I appreciated the links between the characters in book one, Cursed, and book three, Trolled. The story was engaging because it was a diary or log setup with interesting side stories or documents. The variety of voices helps the listener understand all the different parts of the books - journaling, stories, documents, reports, etc. One "setback" to this audiobook would be there are no illustrations, but they are not a highlight in the story. I personally didn't care for characters saying, "OMG" in the story or the talk of farts. I'm sure it won't bother other readers or listeners.

The full cast audio is a great way to tell a story with multiple voices. I applaud all the readers because they had to have their character voice, but also characterize the other characters they interacted with during their part of the story. I could distinguish the characters and they were enjoyable to hear. I wish that all the readers were listed on the audiobook cover, but alas they are not. I couldn't find a complete list on the Listening Library website either. One strange sound effect during the story was during texts between characters. Their was a keyboard typing noise with a zoom noise at the end. The zoom noise was find, but the keyboard typing was very out of place. It brought to mind AOL Instant Messanger messaging rather than phone messaging.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Audio Book Details...
Trolled by Bruce Coville
Series: Book 03, The Enchanted Files
Read by Barbara Rosenblat, Kivlighan de Monebello, and a full cast
Produced by Listening Library
Number of Discs: 5
Total Time: 5 Hours, 21 Minutes
Release Date: September 2017
ISBN: 9781524782610

Review: Dragonwatch

Journey back to the world of Fablehaven!

Brandon Mull has begun a new series, A Fablehaven Adventure. Book one is entitled Dragonwatch. If you have yet to hear the original Fablehaven series, you need to start there before tackling his newest adventure. Familiar characters return to familiar locations in this fantastical story.

Here is the book description from Brandon Mull's website:

"In the hidden dragon sanctuary of Wyrmroost, Celebrant the Just, King of the Dragons, plots his revenge. He has long seen the sanctuaries as prisons, and he wants nothing more than to overthrow his captors and return the world to the Age of Dragons, when he and his kind ruled and reigned without borders. The time has come to break free and reclaim his power.
No one person is capable of stopping Celebrant and his dragon horde. It will take the ancient order of Dragonwatch to gather again if there is any chance of saving the world from destruction. In ancient times, Dragonwatch was a group of wizards, enchantresses, dragon slayers, and others who originally confined the majority of dragons into sanctuaries. But nearly all of the original Dragonwatch members are gone, and so the wizard Agad reaches out to Grandpa Sorenson for help.
As Kendra and Seth confront this new danger, they must draw upon all their skills, talents, and knowledge as only they have the ability to function together as a powerful dragon tamer. Together they must battle against forces with superior supernatural powers and breathtaking magical abilities.
How will the epic dragon showdown end? Will dragons overthrow humans and change the world as we know it?"

I am thrilled to hear more about Fablehaven's world! I was hoping for more stories, but I was content with end of the original series. I adored the original narrator, E. B. Stevens, too. I hoped for the return of Stevens, but Shadow Mountain went with Kirby Heyborne. I was disappointed, but Heyborne did an amazing job! Dragonwatch is a dramatic story and he fully embraced the emotions without going over the top. The only voice that got muddy in my ears was Grandpa's voice. I look forward to the next installment of A Fablehaven Adventure and hope to hear Heybourne read again.

One final note on Shadow Mountain - they produce an wonderful audiobook. The music at the beginning and end of the discs is lovely with what sounds like a full orchestra. Moving from disc to disc is an artform. They fade out the story and bring in Heybourne to tell you to go to the next disc and fade out with music. There is no abrupt cutoff of the story or jarring new voice to tell you to change discs. Well done, Shadow Mountain!

Reviewed from a library copy.

Audio Book Details...
Dragonwatch by Brandon Mull
Series: Book 1, A Fablehaven Adventure
Read by Kirby Heybourne
Produced by Shadow Mountain
Number of Discs: 9
Total Time: 10 hours, 19 minutes
Release Date: March 2017
ISBN: 9781629722962

Review: Dragon Captives

Unwanteds, the New Quests!

The final installment of The Unwanteds: Island of Dragons came out last year (April 2016). Such a wonderful, fantastic series. With great anticipation (with a hint of unease), a new Unwanteds series has arrived! The Unwanteds Quests by Lisa McMann, narrated by Fiona Hardingham.

Journey back to Artime and say hello to familiar friends.

Dragon Captives takes place several years after Island of Dragons. The sister twins, Fifer and Thisbe, are older and bolder. They want to strike out on their own and use their unknown, magical powers. When an old friend, Hux the ice-blue dragon, arrives on Artime's shore, new adventure calls out to the girls. They can help Hux as wells as their brother.

Author McMann truly returns to the world of Artime and the surrounding islands. Time has passed, but she captures the feelings and tone of her previous series. There is humor, seriousness, twists, and a good cliffhanger. I cannot wait to hear the next book!

Narrator Fiona Hardingham reads the story. After several books with narrator Steve West, this change of narrator was a bit of a shift. It makes sense to change from a gentleman reader to a lady because of the shift of characters from brothers to sisters, but I miss you Mr. West. Hardingham does a fine job of sharing the story. Only one character made me cringe while listening - Simba. His voice is low and gravely and it can very difficult to capture. It takes strength to maintain a voice, but he sounded like he had Southern accent. I look forward to book two and we'll see if Hardingham returns to narrate the next installment.

Reviewed from a Simon and Schuster copy. Thank you, Simon and Schuster!
I received this audiobook for free from Simon and Schuster for an honest review.

Audio Book Details...

Dragon Captives by Lisa McMann
Series: Book 1, The Unwanteds Quests
Read by Fiona Hardingham
Produced by Simon & Schuster Audio
Number of Discs: 7
Total Time: 8 hours, 8 minutes
Release Date: February 2017
ISBN: 9781508227960

Review: Demon Dentist

Demon Dentist by David Walliams is a Middle Grade Audie Award Finalist this year. I was able to find a copy through my library's interlibrary loan program. Thank you public libraries for providing this service!!

The story was not my cup of tea, but the narration was fantastic. The story was about Alfie's dental adventures that turned out to be horrible, yet uplifting at the end. It made my stomach turn over and gave me shivers. As an individual who would prefer not to visit the dentist, this was a horror story. For those readers who enjoy a disgusting scare, this is the book for you. Walliams's style reminded me of Roald Dahl and Adam Gidwitz's Grimm series. For more story information, I would recommend Ms. Yingling's book review.

The narration on the other hand was wonderful! David Walliams, Jocelyn Jee Esien, and Nitin Ganatra shared the narration of the story. It was smooth dialogue from one character to another as well as genuine. Deborah Taylor spoke about authenticity of accents and it really hit home in this audiobook. Beyond the stellar narration skills of three actors, music was also added at the beginning, end, and between chapters. It felt like a grow-up version of a book and CD audiobook that has page cues. I think it really added to the story. Another addition was a sound effect to point out the use of made up words. A thoughtful touch for readers / listeners who are learning words and what is a true word versus a created word. I would definitely listen to this combo of voice talent, music, and smooth editing.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Audio Book Details...
Demon Dentist by David Walliams
Read by David Walliams, Jocelyn Jee Esien, and Nitin Ganatra
Music by Mark Morriss
Produced by Harper Audio
Number of Discs: 4
Total Time: 4 Hours, 46 Minutes
Release Date: March 2016
ISBN: 9780062443977

Review from Publishers Weekly

Review: The Wooden Prince

The Wooden Prince by John Claude Bemis is on the shortlist for the 2017 Young Listeners Audie Award. It's the first book in a new series, Out of Abaton. Abaton is a magical kingdom, but it has ties to the Venician Empire (Venice). Book one shares snippets about Abaton, but all the action takes place in the Venician Empire.

Bemis shares a new interpretation of the classic story Pinocchio. In The Wooden Prince, Pinocchio is a automa servant who carries something mysterious inside is chest. He is sent to the alchemist Geppetto by the ruler of Abaton, Prestor John. Geppetto is in hiding. The airmen of the emperor are after Geppetto and Pinocchio. Prestor John is imprisoned and his daughter, Princess Lazuli is determined to rescue him. As the story unfolds, their paths cross and the Abatonians band together to overcome the evil forces of the emperor.

This story is not what I expected at all. The magical world is built on alchemy and elemental forces (earth, wind, fire, water) which are attached to magical creatures (gnomes, sylphs, djinn, undines). Some readers might place this story under the steampunk genre. I personally didn't feel a heavy steampunk vibe. The story does wrap up well in book one with openings for book two. No giant cliff hanger for those who are uncertain to continue with the series. I'm not sure I will continue with book two.

The Wooden Prince under the shortlist for the Young Listeners Audie category and after finishing the story I'm questioning the placement. Shouldn't The Wooden Prince be in the next step up with Middle Grade? Young Listeners goes up to age 8 which is around second grade. This story is pretty in-depth with magic, battle, new worlds, etc. Readers can even download a glossary of terms online. I am sure there are some children who would happily jump into this tale, but in general this is not a book I would recommend to third graders and younger. If you have ideas or thoughts on the The Wooden Prince, please let me know. I would be very interested.

Audie awards are given for the production of the piece and this is a well crafted audiobook. Oasis Audio put a lot of time in adding music, sound effects, and voice adjustments for some of the magical characters. Narrator Ralph Lister was a fine voice to hear throughout the book. I have previously heard Lister reading The Haunting of Charles Dickens and The Flint Heart. I liked Maestro's cranky voice and attitude. The undine's voice was the hardest to hear while I was listening. His voice was very low and being accompanied with sound effects made the voice very muddy to me.

The added sound effects and music were a fine addition. The music is by Vernian Process. The sound effects helped and hindered the story. Some of the squelch noises were disgusting - eating and arrow pulling. Other sound effects help set the mood of the story - night crickets or a fire burning. I think sound effects were an interesting choice to add.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Audio Book Details...
The Wooden Prince by John Claude Bemis
Series: Book 1, Out of Abaton
Read by Ralph Lister
Music by Vernian Process
Produced by Oasis Audio
Number of Discs: 8
Total Time: 9 Hours, 39 Minutes
Release Date: March 2016
ISBN: 9781613757666

Review: All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook

A long title for a quick read!

Meet Perry, a 12-year-old who grew up in a minimal security prison in tiny, tiny Surprise, Nebraska. His mother, Jessica is close to parole. They have dreams when they exit the gates. Their timeline is coming to a close. But Perry is forced to leave Blue River Co-ed Correctional Facility without his mom and before the parole hearing. Something isn't right. Someone is turning their lives inside out. It's the new District Attorney.

I could not stop listening to this audiobook. It's up for an Audio Award this year and I can hear why it made the short-list for Middle Grade. Author Leslie Connor has written a story that grabs the reader and draws them into the world of Blue River. Perry's family turns into your family. The ups and downs, the joys and heartache become your own. You want to see everyone succeed! This is a story that after you hear it, you want to share it with everyone. You should hear this book!

Extra notes ... I want to hear more about the Blue River family! There are a couple curse/swear words in the story, but it is very minor. Other themes besides family and prison include friends, school, forgiveness, and truth.

Michael Crouch and Kathleen McInerney narrate All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook. I was intrigued about having two narrators. It fits the story well. Most of the book is narrated by Perry (Michael Crouch) while Jessica (Kathleen McInerney) narrates a couple chapters here and there. It's Perry's story, but it's Jessica's too. Both voices are needed to share the history of the Cook family. They don't take away from each other, but build on each other to create depth of character and understanding. Crouch and McInerney sounded good together in the story. The characters are on the younger side (11 and 29), and both narrators gave very believable voices for each main character. The supporting characters were given vocal depth as well, so they could be distinguished from one another. It was fantastic! I would listen to this book again.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Audio Book Details...
All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook by Leslie Connor
Read by Michael Crouch and Kathleen McInerney
Produced by Harper Audio
Number of Discs: MP3 download (8 parts)
Total Time: 9 hours, 41 minute
Release Date: March 2016
ISBN: 9780062448187

Review: A Most Magical Girl

A Most Magical Girl takes place in Victorian England. Proper young lady, Annabel Grey, goes to her great aunt where they share magic with her. It is unbelievable that her mother never mentioned any of this to her. Now she is told that she needs to learn quickly in order to find the Moreover Wand in under London. She needs to fight white magic against the black magic that has arrived in London.

I was uncertain about A Most Magical Girl. I have been avoiding narrator Jayne Entwistle for some time. Occasionally her character voices get under my skin and I turn her off. I like a fantasy tale and I haven't heard Entwistle for a while, so I gave this audiobook a listen. The story was strange, but the narration was well done.

The story is a dark, gothic tale of good versus evil and young versus old. (Some moments reminded me of Neil Gaiman stories.) Mr. Angel was the dark magician who called up darklings from the shadows which is a bit unsettling. I preferred to imagine them as little inkblots in motion rather than how they were actually described. Annabel Grey did have a "friend," Kitty, who was along during the whole adventure. Kitty was interesting and wild and magical. Annabel and Kitty's adventure was nearly the entire length of the book. The wrap up at the end seemed rather short in comparison to the lengthy journey. The most interesting part of the book for me was the dark magic machine Mr. Angel created. It was fed by mourning tokens of the Victorian age. That historical addition was short and fascinating.

As I previously stated, Jayne Entwistle is the narrator for A Most Magical Girl. It was a good listen. Her voices were believable for all the characters. Annabel and Kitty were the main characters, but there were elderly ladies and gentlemen, trolls, Mr. Angel, and darklings. The character voices were maintained throughout the whole book. I would give Entwistle another go after hearing A Most Magical Girl.

I received this audiobook from Penguin Random House for an honest review. Thank you, Listening Library!

Audio Book Details...
A Most Magical Girl by Karen Foxlee
Read by Jayne Entwistle
Produced by Listening Library
Number of Discs: 7
Total Time: 8 hours, 13 minutes
Release Date: August 2, 2016
ISBN: 9780147521033 / 9780147521040

July Audiobook Update

I haven't stopped listening to audiobooks but I have taken a break from posting reviews. In a nutshell, here's what I've been reading over the past month ...

MVP #2 : The Soccer Surprise by David A. Kelly, read by Tonya Cornelisse
Five Kingdoms #4 : Death Weavers by Brandon Mull read by Keith Nobbs
The BFG by Roald Dahl, read by David Walliams
Who Was Laura Ingalls Wilder? by Patricia Brennan Demuth, read by Kimberly Farr
Who Was Roald Dahl? by True Kelley, read by Rene Ruiz
When Friendship Followed Me Home by Paul Griffin, read by Paul Griffin
The Writings of Paul Frees by Paul Frees, read by Paul Frees
Waiting for Augusta by Jessica Lawson, read by Luke Daniels

Review: Island of Dragons

The End of Artime is Here!

Island of Dragons is the final installment of Lisa McMann's Unwanteds series. I've waited on the edge of my seat for each audiobook release. The series has been captivating! Island of Dragons made me want to cry because it's the end of a series that stole a piece of my heart. I've gotten to know the people, critters, and statues from Artime, Quill, Island of Shipwrecks, and the other islands. I don't want to say goodbye...

Yet there is always a time for a story to wrap up. McMann brought the conclusion of the Unwanteds to a satisfying end. She also left room for a sequel. More adventures are on the horizon! I cannot wait! Uwanteds Quests is coming in 2017! Thank you, Lisa McMann for not leaving these beloved lands.

Steve West returns to narrate the last Unwanteds tale. Yippee! I've enjoyed his voice for several of audiobooks in the series. Mr. West is beginning to feel like an audiobook friend and I love to hear his voice make the story come alive. Simon & Schuster did have a female voice share the beginning and ending information for the story and production. The end of disc voice was jarring for me, but I have a multi-disc player so have that interruption was annoying to me. I know other audiobook listeners appreciate the "end of disc" statements. I hope West return for the next installment of the Unwanteds adventure. I understand if a new narrator is chosen for a new series, but Mr. West would be greatly missed.

Thank you, Ms. McMann and Mr. West. It's been a treat!

Reviewed from a library copy.

Audio Book Details...
Island of Dragons by Lisa McMann
Series: Book 7, The Unwanteds
Read by Steve West
Produced by Simon & Schuster Audio
Number of Discs: 9
Total Time: 11 hours, 15 minutes
Release Date: April 2016
ISBN: 9781442393844

Review: The Hidden Oracle

The Percy Jackson Saga continues!

The focus shifts from Percy Jackson to the god Apollo who has been thrown to earth as a human teenager. The beginning is a humorous trial of escaping garbage, bullies, and fruit. A strange coincidence ... right as I began listening to the book I walked past a banana peel on the sidewalk. How ironic to sight it around the the beginning of The Hidden Oracle. You'll understand if you listen or read the beginning of the book.

I will admit that I have a Percy Jackson gap. My last check in with the series was The Mark of Athena ... which was published in 2012. The saga began with Greek gods, moved to Roman gods, and now the series returns to Greek gods while keeping tabs with characters from previous books. Listeners and readers of the series will enjoy this next installment. I'm glad to have touched base with Camp Halfblood & friends, but I'm not sure how closely I'll follow along with Apollo's trials. Some themes of the book are friendship, mythology, romantic interest between guys and gals, romantic interest between guys, overcoming obstacles, and fighting/battles. I also heard the humor sprinkled throughout which had me chuckling. I think the guiser gods might be my favorite characters.

Robbie Daymond's reading of The Hidden Oracle was fantastic. Apollo is a bit full of himself and Daymond gives voice to his attitude so well. I think his reading made the book. Apollo is the main character but there is a plethora of ladies, gentlemen, and mythological creatures which Daymond shares with different voices. I look forward to the next book I find read by Robbie Daymond!

I received this audiobook from Penguin Random House for an honest review. Thank you, Listening Library!


Audio Book Details...
The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan
Series: Book 1, The Trials of Apollo
Read by Robbie Daymond
Produced by Listening Library
Number of Discs: 9
Total Time: 10 hours, 30 minutes
Release Date: May 3, 2016
ISBN: 9780451485199 / 9780451485205

Review: Wolf Hollow

Lauren Elizabeth Wolk is an artist, poet, and novelist. Wolf Hollow is her second book and is "Wolk's first novel for young people (although really for all people)." I would completely agree that this title is a book for everyone. It captured my attention and I am closer to middle age than middle school. Here is the novel teaser from Listening Library ...

Annebelle reflects upon a very brief period in her life. Great tragedy accompanies a budding friendship and a case of bullying. Each chapter revealed small pieces of a larger painting, until the masterpiece is revealed. It's not a lighthearted story. It's one that begs the listener (or reader) to reflect on the truth of tale. It took me a while to write a review because of the depth of this novel. It's not a book that will be easily passed by after reading it.

Part of the story was the addition of art. Annebelle's mother won a camera and a lifetime supply a film. Photographs play a role in the drama, but the photos also give insight

Emily Rankin narrates Wolf Hollow. I really enjoyed the story through her voice. She sounded youthful and mature which is a great bland for the character of Annabelle. Rankin also give believable voices for the men, brothers, and women throughout the story. I would definitely listen to Emily Rankin narrate another story.

I received this audiobook from Penguin Random House for an honest review. Thank you, Listening Library!








Audio Book Details...
Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk
Read by Emily Rankin
Produced by Listening Library
Number of Discs: 6
Total Time: 6 hours, 55 minutes
Release Date: May 3, 2016
ISBN: 9780451485656 / 9780451485663

Review: Stella by Starlight

Several years ago, I read about Deza Malone from The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis. Stella Mills from Stella by Starlight by Sharon M. Draper brought Deza to mind. I think Deza and Stella could have been friends if they lived closer to each other. Both girls grow up fast, but grew up strong and caring.

Stella's story is a family story from author Draper. She draws from her grandma and her father. Her grandmother was a writer. She wrote down her life in a diary and only one has survived. Her father grew up on stories from the elders and walked along the roads of North Carolina.

The Mills family lives in (fictional) Bumblebee, North Carolina. One evening in the moonlight, Stella and her little brother Jojo see a burning cross and men in white costumes. The town was already segregated, but a fresh wave of change is here.

It's a story of change and a story of living. Stella gives the listener (or reader) a glimpse of life during the segregated South. It's a story that makes you think. It's a story about finding similarities between you and strangers. It's a story about writing and a story about community. As I stated earlier, this is a great book to read along with The Mighty Miss Malone. Both books are historical keepers. I would recommend them to older elementary students, middle graders, or families who listen together.

Heather Alicia Simms read Stella by Starlight. What a smooth voice to hear! Simms has a gentle quality, even when the events of the story were intense. I would definitely listen to Simms again. She could differentiate between women, men, boys, and girls during her reading. There were songs as well which she sang a capella. Well done!

The only other music in the story was the intro and exit music which folded into the story very well. The intro music was one voice humming a song and the exit music was a choir singing the song. (I could share the song title, but I want to save that treasure for the next listener.)

Reviewed from a library copy.

Audio Book Details...
Stella by Starlight by Sharon M. Draper
Read by Heather Alicia Simms
Produced by Simon & Schuster Audio
Number of Discs: 6
Total Time: 6 hours, 46 minutes
Release Date: January 2015
ISBN: 9781442380394

Review: Echo

Echo weaves together four stories into one. Pam Munoz Ryan begins Echo by taking the reader to an enchanted forest where Otto gets lost and then found. Fast forward and meet Friedrich in Germany at the beginning of World War I, fast forward again to meet Mike in Pennsylvania between the great wars, and finally fast forward to meet Ivy in California during World War II. How can all these people relate to one another? It through music and a little bit of magic.

Every character is facing troubles. They are seeking a way out and a plan to save someone they care about. A light in the darkness is the beauty of music they find in a harmonica. Music can bring people together and hush away horror for a while. Otto's story started the whole musical journey. Frederick's story made me want to stop listening or throw it out the window. Mike's story had me rooting for the underdog. Ivy's story had me wishing for better understanding. Oh my heart! What an amazing book! If you like music, history, or a little magic, this is a story for you. If you appreciate a memorable story, you need to hear this story.

It's definitely a book to hear rather than read. It was nominated for an Audie for good reason! Each main character is read by a different narrator: Otto by Mark Bramhall, Frederick by David de Vries, Mike by MacLeod Andrews, and Ivy by Rebecca Soler. I appreciated the extra production information from Scholastic that shared the names of the narrators and musicians who played a roll in Echo. Each CD begins with a narrator David de Vries telling the listener which numbered disc is being played.

The music, the ever encouraging music is throughout the entire book. It's also specially created for this story by Corky Siegel. No stock music or generic tracks here. Sometimes the music is underneath singing and other times it is by itself.  Each song has a special meaning for the characters and the music is played with feeling the harmonica, cello, and piano. The final selection brings it all together! (I'm not going to spoiling it here.) The final song arranged by S. Peace Nistades is also played in its as the final track on CD nine.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Audio Book Details...
Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan
Read by Mark Bramhall, David de Vries, MacLeod Andrews, and Rebecca Soler
Music by Corky Siegel
Produced by Scholastic Audiobooks
Number of Discs: 1
Total Time: 10 Hours, 22 Minutes
Release Date: March 2015
ISBN: 9780545788366

Reviews from other listeners ...
AudioFile Magazine
Common Sense Media

Review: Crenshaw

I picked up Crenshaw because I enjoyed Applegate’s The One and Only Ivan. I didn’t even bother to read the back cover summary. The cover looked sweet and magical. I’m always up for a fantasy story!

Applegate did not create a fantasy story. She wrote realistic fiction with an imaginary friend. (Thank you for the Harvey quote at the beginning of the book!) It is a story about one family's struggle with homelessness. A story that I did not expect, but one that truly is an eye opener into another person's world. I felt like I was walking in someone else's shoes as I listened to Jackson and his descriptions of his life. Crenshaw is his imaginary friend that appeared when he was needed. The cat brought humor, companionship, council, and frustration to Jackson. Crenshaw showed that everyone needs a friend, even if it is imaginary.

Hello, again, Mr. Kirby Heyborne! I’ve enjoyed several of Heyborne’s book narrations. This is another great listen. His voice was believable for 4th grader Jackson. He also added different vocal variations for the other characters in Crenshaw.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Audio Book Details...
Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate
Read by Kirbey Heyborne
Produced by Listening Library
Number of Discs: 3
Total Time: 3 Hours, 18 Minutes
Release Date: September 2015
ISBN: 9780399564642

Review: The Terrible Two Get Worse

The Terrible Two are back in The Terrible Two Get Worse! I would highly recommend listening to The Terrible Two before reading The Terrible Two Get Worse. It's a fantastic followup to Niles' and Miles' pranks at their school in Yawnee Valley.

Niles and Miles are on a role at pranking, but one prank goes too far. Their principal has been replaced. Something needs to be done!

The themes of humor and friendship run strong in this second Terrible tale. I think readers of book one will definitely enjoy book two. Niles and Miles prank well together and challenge each other. They also learn consequences together and working with others. I am intrigued to see if more titles will be coming in this series. This is a great follow-up book and wraps up well if this is the end of the series.

Adam Verner returns to narrate The Terrible Two Get Worse! Again, well done on sharing the story. The character voices were maintained from book one to book two. Stuart still got under my skill, but his character was well maintained. Great job, Mr. Verner!

Reviewed from an Audiobook Jukebox copy. Thank you, Blackstone Audio!

Audio Book Details...
The Terrible Two Get Worse by Mac Barnett and Jory John
Series: Book 2, The Terrible Two
Read by Adam Verner
Produced by Blackstone Audio
Number of Discs: MP3 download (25 parts)
Total Time: 3 Hours, 32 Minutes
ISBN: 9781504661935

Review: Island of Graves

Island of Graves by Lisa McMann is book six in the Unwanteds series. It's an excellent fantasy series! I would HIGHLY recommend listening from the beginning if this is your first introduction to the Unwanteds series.

I wait at the edge of my seat for each new installment of the Unwanteds. The newest book, Island of Graves, did not disappoint. The pirates have taken Aaron away and left him for dead. Alex wants to go after him to help save Artime and Quill. The entire island is in jeopardy.  If you're looking for magic and battles and missions. This is an excellent book. I don't want to give too many details away!  The plot twists were so surprising. The end of the book had me gripping my steering wheel the whole drive home from work. The story wraps up well, but McMann included an epilogue... I cannot wait for April 2016! Island of Dragons is coming.

Steve West returns to narrate book six. Huzzah! The familiar characters were all recognizable and the new characters were just as strong and distinctive. Simon & Schuster did have another narrate share the end of the disc news. She had a lovely voice, but it was slightly startling to go from story with Steve to a pleasant, elevator voice telling you that you need to switch discs. With a single disc player, this information is helpful, but on a multi-disc player it's a distraction.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Audio Book Details...
Island of Graves by Lisa McMann
Series: Book 6, The Unwanteds
Read by Steve West
Produced by Simon & Schustler Audio
Number of Discs: 9
Total Time: 11 hours 11 minutes
ISBN: 9781442388857

Review: Catch You Later, Traitor

Catch You Later, Traitor is Avi's newest historical fiction title for middle school listeners and readers. He tells a story about the Collison family, specifically 12 year old Peter. The family lives in Brooklyn, New York in the year 1951. Professor Collison teaches at an area college, Mrs. Collison is guidance counselor at an area school, older brother Bobby goes to high school and has dreams of space, and Peter, the youngest Collison, is attending middle school. Peter hangs out with his best friend Kat, enjoys playing punch ball at school, and loves a good detective story. The Collisons are living a typical 1950's lifestyle when Peter's teacher tells his class that Peter is a "pinko." All the sudden Peter's world is turned upside down! His teacher and his classmates give Peter the cold shoulder, an FBI agent wants to talk to him about communism, and his family is full of secrets. Peter needs to turn into a detective, like Sam Spade, and find out the truth!

The description of Catch You Later, Traitor brought to mind a variety of media that I previously consumed, but with a new twist and historical story. I thought of Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin, The Brixton Brothers series by Mac Barnett, and the movie The Majestic. In Avi's story, it was a double detective story. Peter loves to hear about Sam Spade on the radio and he also reads detective magazines. With all his sleuthing knowledge, he sets out to discover his family secrets and why the FBI is after him. It's a very captivating historical mystery. As Peter unearths family history, his mind picks up part of his life as if Peter himself was a detective story. (Those sections were fun to hear on the audiobook.)

The story picked up pace as Peter shares his life in the 1950's and his findings about truth, freedom, and family. I felt that Avi wrote on a topic that is "new." I know of very few (in any) books for middlers that talk about the Red Scare in the 1950's. There are books on the World Wars and the Great Depression, but not too many about these themes from a young citizen's perspective. If you know of a title, please leave a comment.

Mark Turetsky narrates Avi's Catch You Later, Traitor. I've previously heard him read The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger and The Candymakers by Wendy Mass. It's been a couple years since I've heard Turestsky, but he captured the youth of Peter Collison wonderfully. He gave different tones and voices for the other characters as well. At times, the narration was breathy (where you can hear Mark take a breath before speaking), but the story was captivating. After the first two discs, it wasn't so noticeable to me. Would I listen to another title narrated by Mark Turetsky? Yes, I would listen to Mr. Turetsky again.

Reviewed from an Audiobook Jukebox copy. Thank you, Recorded Books!

Audio Book Details...
Catch You Later, Traitor by Avi
Read by Mark Turetsky
Produced by Recorded Books
Number of Discs: 6
Total Time: 7 hours, 9 minutes
Release Date: March 2015
ISBN: 9781490664637

Review: The Graveyard Book Full Cast Edition

The Graveyard Book originally came out in 2008. I cannot recall what drew me to the book, but I fell in love with it. Neil Gaiman narrated his story when it first appeared on the shelves. He's a fantastic narrator and I listened to the book several times. When a full cast version of The Graveyard Book came out 2014, I was very intrigued. I've heard few full cast audiobooks, but I have heard hundreds of hours of radio dramas. I was so happy to see one of my local libraries purchase this title. I put it on hold as soon as I could!

What a well-produced audiobook! Neil Gaiman reading the story was great and the full-cast audio was pretty amazing. The voices together were genuine, believable, and added a new depth to the story. A couple digital effects were added to the story to build part of the characters and/or the situation. I never considered The Graveyard Book as a scary story, but with the added effects it definitely had that uneasy, slightly terrifying edge. It was also a story that could be enjoyed all together or separated into a radio drama series. I could clearly hear why this production of the The Graveyard Book earned an Audie Award.

I would highly recommend listening to both versions of The Graveyard Book. Both audiobook versions were fantastic. I don't want to say the Gaiman narration or the full cast audio were better than the other. They were both delightful! When an excellent book is paired with an amazing audio, it's a book I want to share with everyone! In addition to the story, Neil Gaiman adds an essay about the creation of The Graveyard Book. It was a beautiful and thoughtful addition. He also hinted about checking up on Silas and what he's up to back home. Gaiman also said that, as with The Graveyard Book, another book would come in it's own time.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Audio Book Details...
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Read by Full Cast
Produced by Harper Audio
Number of Discs: 7 CDs
Total Time: 8 hours 24 minutes
Release Date: September 2014
ISBN: 9780062364463