The Sixty-Eight Rooms

The Sixty-Eight Rooms by Marianne Malone

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Welcome to a new view of the Thorne Rooms from the Art Institute of Chicago. The Thorne Rooms are miniatures that depict different times and places in history. While on a field trip, Jack and Ruthie discover the magic of the Thorne Rooms. It goes beyond the historic details of each room. Jack find a key and when Ruthie holds it, the key takes her on an unforgettable journey to the present and the past.
Malone grew up in the Chicago area and shares the lives of two elementary students living in the Midwest. Her background in art history and her familiarity with the Thorne Rooms clearly shows. It was nice to read a book placed in the Midwest. I enjoyed the magic of walking around a miniature room with Ruthie and Jack. It was exciting to see how the past and present collided. Towards the ending, I felt it could have ended in several places, but Malone continued to include tidbits for a second book. I am intrigued to see how the story unfolds.
Cassandra Campbell shared the story. She has a comfortable voice with pleasant differences between characters. I enjoyed the distinctive qualities between the historic characters. I hope Campbell returns for the second Sixty-Eight Rooms book.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Audio Book Details...
The Sixty-Eight Rooms by Marianne Malone
Series: Book 1, The Sixty-Eight Rooms
Read by Cassandra Campbell
Produced by Listening Library
Number of Discs: 6
Total Time: 7 hours

The Flint Heart

The Flint Heart by Katherine Paterson

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Jump into the world of British fairy tales! John Paterson and his wife Katherine freely adapted Eden Phillpott's original story, The Flint Heart. They modernized the tale for today's readers. If you are a lover of fairy tales, find this treasure. Brilliance Audio also included an amazing afterword with Katherine Paterson.

The story reminds me of Alice in Wonderland. The pieces fit together, but in unexpected ways. Mysterious creatures and inanimate objects come to life! Reader Ralph Lister is enjoyable to hear. His UK training is appreciated considering this is an English story.

When you finish this tale, you might be interested in finding the original. The Flint Heart is an old story and isn't easy to find. I recommend Google Books to view of copy of Philpott's original tale.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Audio Book Details...
The Flint Heart freely adapted by Katherine Paterson & John Paterson
Read by Ralph Lister
Produced by Brilliance Audio
Number of Discs: 4
Total Time: 4 hours, 10 minutes

Operation Yes

Operation Yes by Sara Lewis Holmes

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Operation Yes intrigues the reader with the toy army men on the cover. I personally never read the back cover. I liked the army men and figured that the story would be about army men coming to life and saving their owners. Yes, it would be a novel like Toy Story the movie.
I was wrong. After listening to the first track I questioned if I should continue. The story was about Bo, Bo's mom and Bo's cousin Gari. They all worked for the various divisions in the military. I am not too familiar with military life, so this was really eye-opening information. This was a fantastic novel about making your voice heard, living on a military base and learning to open yourself up to new experience. I would highly recommend this book to readers who are looking for realistic fiction or children of today.
Jessica Almasy read Operation Yes. When the story began with a male character, I was taken aback. Usually, male main characters are read by male readers. But Operation Yes is more than Bo; Operation Yes is about Bo and Gari and Miss Loop and all the students in school. I enjoyed Almasy's reading. I especially enjoyed the dynamic sessions in the taped space.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Audio Book Details...
Operation Yes by Sara Lewis Holmes
Read by Jessica Almasy
Produced by Brilliance Audio
Number of Discs: 6
Total Time: 6 hours, 28 minutes

It Happened on a Train

It Happened on a Train: Brixton Brothers, Book 3 by Mac Barnett




Steve Brixton is finished with being a detective. After discovering the ghostwriter's secret, he is set on throwing away the entire Bailey Brothers series and his own detective agency. Yet, a mystery catches his attention during a train ride. He agrees to come out of retirement, just this once.
The mystery, the danger, the humor! I love the Brixton Brothers books. Every time a another book appears, I cannot wait to get my hands on it. Barnett writes a story that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. I would highly recommend reading the Brixton Brothers (starting with book one, because they do follow an order), to anyone who wants a mystery or humorous story. If the reader enjoys both genres, it's a perfect fit!

Arte Johnson returns to read book 3. Johnson brings perfect animation to the Brixton Brothers. He isn't flamboyant but straight forward in his approach. I hope all future Brixton Brothers books will be read by Johnson.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Audio Book Details...
It Happened on a Train by Mac Barnett
Series: Book 3, Brixton Brothers
Read by Arte Johnson
Produced by Listening Library
Number of Discs: 4
Total Time: 4 hours

A Year 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 a full year and it's time to stock of all the books I heard over the year. Let's break it down...

Juvenile Fiction [estimated trt: 7 days, 8 hours, 13 minutes]
Leaving the Bellweathers
Flawed Dogs: The Shocking Raid on Westminster
The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity
The Ghostwriter Secret
Lulu and the Brontosaurus
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes
The Candy Shop Wars
Abby Carnelia's One and Only Magical Power
Bless This Mouse
100 Cupboards
Boom!
Drizzle
A Tale Dark and Grimm
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Peter Pan
The Emerald Atlas
The Candymakers
Secrets of a Civil War Submarine
No Passengers Beyond This Point
Fear Itself
Fablehaven
Rise of the Evening Star
Grip of the Shadow Plague
Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary
Keys to the Demon Prison 
Murder at Midnight 
The Hidden Gallery
Brown Bear & Friends 
The Unwanteds
Operation Yes
It Happened on a Train
Son of Neptune
The Flint Heart
The Sixty-Eight Rooms

Young Adult [trt:  20 hours, 32 minutes]
Death Cloud
Cloaked
Beastly


Adult [trt: 16 hours, 2 minutes]
The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels
The Boy with the Cuckoo-Clock Heart

Over 30 books and over 200 hours of audiobook excellence. Trips back and forth to work will never be the same. I am looking forward to another year of amazing audio adventures. What was your favorite audiobook last year? What book are looking forward to hear this year?

Brown Bear & Friends

Brown Bear & Friends by Bill Martin, Jr. and Eric Carle
 
Brown Bear & Friends features the four wildly popular bear stories by Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carle. I would recommend reading the books and enjoying the vibrant illustrations before listening to these audiobooks. This compilation is read by Gwyneth Paltrow.


According to the back cover description, the audiobook only includes four picture books. The listener is in for a few surprises! After Gwyneth Paltrow shares her versions of Brown Bear, Polar Bear, Panda Bear and Baby Bear, Adriana Sananes shares each story in Spanish! Even if you are not familiar with Spanish, Sananes shares an excellent retelling. Following the eight stories, Macmillan Audio includes Bill Martin Jr. reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear and then an interview with Eric Carle.



I was greatly disappointed by the description on the back of Brown Bear & Friends. Only Paltrow is credited to reading and with a description of "Academy Award winning actress and mother." I thought the description was poorly stated. She won awards and she's a mother! With those accreditation, it clearly makes her an appropriate narrator. I understand descriptions need to by eye catching and informative, but it rankles me when writers throw in information that seems to justify why they chose one person over another.

Paltrow's versions include music underneath each book while she soothingly shares each tale. Her voice would be welcome for young listeners. The stories would also be gentle stories before bedtime.

Adriana Sananes shares dynamic retellings of the bear books. I know a smattering of Spanish so it was really interesting to see what I could understand and follow. Music was not included underneath her audio tracks. I would be interested to hear her entertain again.

Bill Martin Jr's recording was great. I love to hear author's read their own work, because they will read it as they picture it in their head. It's a special treat.



Finally, the interview with Eric Carle was very informative. I wish it could have been longer, but then the cd would have ran over an hour. Oh, well. I would recommend this audiobook to librarians and teachers. It is very versatile with English stories, Spanish stories and an illustrator interview.

Paltrow's versions - 3/5
Sananes' versions - 4/5
Martin's version - 4/5
Carle interview - 5/5

Reviewed from a library copy.

Stephanie also reviews this audiobook at Voices.com's blog Vox Daily.

The Hidden Gallery

The Hidden Gallery (The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #2) by Maryrose Wood


Maryrose Wood continues the tale of how Miss Penelope Lumley is turning Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassiopeia into acceptable and mannerly children. The Incorrigibles are still learning the ins and outs of society. Unfortunately...or fortunately?...the children learn their lessons while visiting the bustling city of London. The city life presents new challenges including a run-in with palace guards and an abundance of pigeons.

Listeners are in for a treat! Katherine Kellgren returns to read the second Incorrigible Children of Ashton place. I was on the edge of my seat to checkout this story. I love the Incorrigibles and their adventures. Kellgren shares these books with finesse. I look forward to listening to The Hidden Gallery again soon. The next book, The Unseen Guest, is coming out this year. I cannot wait!


Reviewed from a library copy.


Audio Book Details...
The Hidden Gallery by Maryrose Wood
Series: Book 2, The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place
Read by Katherine Kellgren
Produced by Listening Library
Number of Discs: 5
Total Time: 5 hours, 57 minutes

Murder at Midnight

Murder At Midnight - Audio by Avi

Travel back to Medieval Times when the printing press was the newest technology in the land and magic was feared. King Claudio outlaws magic and Magnus is thrown in jail. Magnus' newest servant is a mission to save him from jail and a sentence of death.


I do not read many stories set in Medieval Times, but Avi shares a wonderful tale of mystery. I particularly enjoyed the new technology that travelers brought to the city - a printing press. A great treasure was discovering that a Printer's Devil was the individual who set the type and brushed on the ink. The sticky ink would cover the worker and make him (or her) look like a devil.

Avi wrote this story in 2009, but it is a prequel to Midnight Magic written in 2004. I am interested to see where the story leads in the next book.


As far as the narrator goes...I waited too long to write this review. I would slot Woodman in the average category. Nothing dynamic stood out and I finished the audiobook, so he has an enjoyable voice.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Audio Book Details...
Murder at Midnight by Avi
Series: Book 1, Midnight Magic
Read by Jeff Woodman
Produced by Scholastic Audiobooks
Number of Discs: 4
Total Time: 4 hours, 55 minutes

Fablehaven

Brandon Mull created the world of Fablehaven in 2006. The idea of a sanctuary for mystical creatures intrigued me and I set the book on my "to-read" list. It wasn't until I discovered the audiobook of Fablehaven at the library in 2009. What a great solution! I will listen to Fablehaven. I was blown away by the story and the narrator E. B. Stevens. I was also thrilled to have jumped in late as a reader. I only needed to wait one year for the last installment of Fablehaven. I don't want to give too much information away, but I want to interest every reader (or listener) to find Fablehaven and enjoy Mull's creation.

Fablehaven opens with Seth and Kendra being dropped off at their Grandparent's home. They have never been there and they would rather not be there. Grandpa welcomes his grandchildren and shares a mystery with Kendra. Kendra uncovers a secret and precocious Seth follows right along (at least when he's not running ahead and getting into trouble). When the siblings realize the enormity of Fablehaven's existance, there is no going back to living normal. Their journey continues as they meet friends, enemies, creatures of light and creatures of dark. Friends and loved ones come and go, but Fablehaven needs to stand so the Sorenson family has a home and the world will not be overrun by dark creatures.

I could listen to this series over and over again. Mull's play with words is fantastic. He doesn't use simple words for little listeners (or readers). Adults, teens and tweens will enjoy these novels. Similar to Rowling, Mull doesn't shy away from difficult subjects including betrayal, loss and battle. As people have stated for years..."I laughed, I cried, it was great!"

The narrator, E. B. Stevens is amazing. Stevens created so much feeling with each character. Some characters required a some computer enhancing, but it did not take away from the storyline. I believe it enhanced the characters. Stevens creativity places next to Jim Dale in my book. I look forward to hearing Stevens' voices again.

Fablehaven (2006)
8 CDs and 9 hrs, 30 mins
Rise of the Evening Star (2007)
10 CDs and 12 hrs
Grip of the Shadow Plague (2008)
11 CDs and 13.6 hrs
Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary (2009)
12 CDs and 15.6 hrs
Keys to the Demon Prison (2010)
14 CDs and 17 hrs, 45 mins

Fear Itself

Fear Itself by Andrew Clements

Fear Itself is the second book in the Benjamin Pratt & the Keepers of the School series by Andrew Clements. Clements continues the story right immediately from book one - We the Children. The closing scene involves preparations for a boat race. The opening scene is the boat race. Mystery, adventure, and believable characters keeps these tales moving! Clements uses cliffhangers very well in Keepers of the School. I'm at the edge of my seat waiting for book three - Whites of Their Eyes - coming January 2012.

I was pleased to hear the return of narrator Keith Nobbs. Continuing with the same reader for books in a series is very appreciated! I hope to hear more from Nobbs in 2012.

Reviewed from a library copy.


Audio Book Details...
Fear Itself by Andrew Clements
Series: Book 2, Benjamin Pratt & the Keepers of the School
Read by Kevin Nobbs
Produced by Simon Schuster Audio
Number of Discs: 3
Total Time: 3 hours, 30 minutes