RSS 2.0 FeedSeptember 2010, Featured Articles, Family Listening
Young Adult/Children's
SoundCommentary is a Review Source on the Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database, www.childrenslit.com.
Dan Gutman. Satch and Me. Baseball Card Adventures. Read by Johnny Heller. 3 CDs. 3.25 hrs. Recorded Books. 2005/2010. 978-1-4361-6096-4. Library Edition. Ages 9+
Satch and Me is a baseball story and it's also a sttory about time travel. What could be a more perfect combo for a young teen audience? As peanut butter is to jelly, as Phineas is to Ferb, as Abbot is to Costello, baseball and time travel form a winning team. Thirteen year old "Stosh" Stoshback is a Little League baseballer with a very unique talent. He's able to travel back in time, and then return to the present simply by holding a baseball card between his fingers and concentrating. When he gets into a discussion with "Flip" Valentino (his coach) about which pitcher threw the fastest pitch ever, they decide to use a "hands on" approach to find out. After reading what some past baseball greats said on the subject, they target the legendary "Satchel" Paige and, packing a radar gun to time the speed of his pitches, travel back to 1942. Not only do they meet the charismatic and talented Paige, and get to play catch with him, but coach Valentino is given a second chance at fulfulling his life's dream - to pitch for the Dodgers.
A quick fix of fantasy fun with a heavy dose of baseball fact (and a similar dose of fictional writing to flesh out the story) along with the kid-friendly voice of Johnny Heller provide listeners with more than three hours of good stuff! Anybody from the young teens and beyond will enjoy this story and its happy, time-bending ending. - Miles Klein
*LaFevers, R. L. Theodosia and the Eyes of Horus. Read by Charlotte Parry. 7 CDs. 8 hrs. Brilliance. 2010. 978-1-4418-5173-4. Library Edition. Grades 4-8 (ages 9-12)
*LaFevers, R. L. Theodosia and the Staff of Osiris. Read by Charlotte Parry. 8 CDs. 9.33 hrs. Brilliance. 2009. 978-1-4418-4681-5. Library Edition. Grades 4-8
*LaFevers, R. L. Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos. Read by Charlotte Parry. 7 CDs. 8 hrs. Brilliance. 2007/2009. 978-1-4418-4640-2. Library Edition. Grades 4-8
Theodosia Throckmorton might just be my new favorite character. By the time I was halfway through the last disc of R. L. La Fevers' third book, I was searching frantically for news of a fourth, not quite ready to say goodbye to this eleven-year-old Egyptologist and her wild escapades. Life will be a little duller after spending so much time with mummies, curses, and ancient artifacts! La Fevers' characters are fun, insightful, and practically three-dimensional in their completeness. Her heroine, Theo, embodies the clever and adventurous spirit that we all wish we had followed as young children. It was a pleasure to tag along as she outwitted ominous omens and secret societies. The excitement is enhanced by Charlotte Parry, who is an outstanding narrator, in addition to being a New York and London based actress with extensive theatre experience on and off-Broadway and in the West End. Her accents are understandable and delightful; her emotions are clear and rise to every thrilling occasion. I cannot praise these titles enough; they are just as fun for children as adults and, I expect, even better when shared. - Kerry Keegan
Van Draanen, Wendelin. The Gecko & Sticky: The Power Potion. Read by Marc Cashman. 3 CDs. 3.33 hrs. Listening Library. 2010. 978-0-7393-7932-5. Library Edition. Ages 8-11.
This part 4 in a series featuring thirteen-year-old David Sanchez and his sidekick, an incorrigible gecko named Sticky, is an entertaining wild romp. Normally nerdy Dave's courier job takes him to strange and foreboding neighborhoods. Good for Dave; he can become a superhero when the situation calls for it. In this story he comes into possession of a gypsy potion intended for arch villain Damien Black. Filled with action, bathroom humor, and unrelenting silly rhymes, this is a listening delight. Marc Cashman (who teachers voice-actors through his classes, The Cashman Cache of Voice-Acting Techniques, in Los Angeles) delivers with fast-paced narration and energetic sound effects. - Nancy Crowder Chaplin.
Holm, Jennifer L. Turtle in Paradise. Read by Becca Battoe. 3 CDs. 3.75 hrs. Listening Library. 2010. 978-0-3077-3832-5. Library Edition. Ages 9-12.
It is 1935 and eleven-year-old Turtle is sent by her struggling single mother from New Jersey to the Florida Keys to live with relatives. Turtle, a hard-nosed realist, is just the opposite of her airy-fairy mother who has suffered heartache from numerous Prince Not-So-Charmings. The strength of this novel is its stunning description of the Key West of the time, which the afterword says comes from the author's own family history. (Jennifer L. Holm's great-grandmother emigrated from the Bahamas to Key West in 1897.) Not exactly met with open arms by her aunt and incorrigible boy cousins, Turtle is still no shrinking violet. With grit and determination she earns her place among a large cast of characters fighting to rise above the deprivations of the Depression. Award-winning LA based actress Becca Battoe gives spirited and age-appropriate narration. This is a story that teaches, entertains, and has tremendous heart. - Nancy Crowder Chaplin.
Ernessa T. Carter. 32 Candles. A novel. Read by Adenrele Ojo. 8 CDs. 11.25 hrs. Books on Tape. 2010. 978-0-3077-4841-6. Library Edition.
Davie Jones loved the movie 16 Candles and dreamed of a Molly Ringwald ending to her own life in which, despite all odds, she lives happily ever after with the man of her (Davie's) dreams, James Farrell. When she is fifteen Davie learns just how far out of her grasp that dream is and runs away from her home and abusive mother in Glass, Mississippi to Los Angeles where she finds a job as a nightclub singer. Having given up on her dream, she is astonished when James Farrell comes back into her life offering her another chance for that longed-for ending. Stage, film and television actress Adenrele Ojo does a fantastic narration of Ernessa T. Carter's first novel. She brings all the characters to life and helps the listener develop a close relationship with Davie, experiencing the ups and downs along with her, with an intimacy that will make listeners feel like Davie's friend. Listeners will cheer her on and cringe at the regrettable things Davie does. Ojo brings out the humor and the heartbreak in 32 Candles, making it a wonderful, "feel good" book. Hopefully, Ojo will be narrating many more! - Anna Bayerl
Key, Alexander. Escape to Witch Mountain. Read by Marc Thompson. 4 CDs. 4 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2009. 978-1-4419-5876-4. Library Edition.
Escape to Witch Mountain is an exciting and thought provoking science fiction adventure for young adults in which young orphans, Tia and Tony, are seeking "their own people" and a home where they would be safe to be their own extraordinary selves.
They are aware that they are different from others and that it is dangerous to show their magical or psychic abilities, because others fear, attack or seek to use them. There is so much that they don't know about themselves and have no family to teach them. The story begins as they are taken by a social worker (a character marvelously delivered by narrator Marc Thompson, a professional voice, stage and film actor) to the orphanage, after the death of their "Granny" caretaker.
In the stress of the situation, Tia and Tony begin to remember important events from their past, and recollect more throughout the story, as they seek a path to the safety of their own kind. One villain lies to the authorities, claiming to be their uncle, but the children know that he wants to take them away to an imprisoned life where their gifts would be used for unscrupulous purposes. Much of the plot is a big chase, the children showing their ingenuity and learning who to trust to help them, as, listening to their intuition, they run or hide. As they foil the plans of their pursuers, they learn about the world, themselves and come to realize who they really are. A wonderful "coming of age" story for all who ever felt themselves to be different from the norm.
Marc Thompson's performance is eloquent and with wonderful voices! He sounds more like a storyteller than a reader; his excellent pacing allows for easy listening. His cadence and inflection are strong and compelling. The dialogue sparkles with characterization which adds depth of description to the author's well written prose. Character accents are complete with squeaks and the cruel orphanage overseer has a smoker's gravelly malevolent tones. Tia's voice is rendered as a perfect little girl, extraordinarily created. The Irish priest who befriends them sports a seamless sound of compassion, heartiness and strength.
This is a wonderful rendering of a cherished classic story by Alexander Key, the author of many popular science fiction stories for children, including The Forgotten Door, The Golden Enemy, and The Incredible Tide. - Rachel Claire.
Ryan, Carrie. The Dead-Tossed Waves. Read by Tara Sands. 10 CDs. 12 hrs. Listening Library/Random House Audio. 2010. 978-0-307-70718-5. Library Edition.
This companion to Carrie Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth will surely please fans while those new to the story might have some difficulty feeling connected to the characters and the story. Gabry has never known life before the Mudo, zombies, attacked and humans needed to be protected by the Barrier. Gabry's mother, who came from the Forest, guards the lighthouse and fends off zombies that come out of the water. All are relatively safe as long as they don't go beyond the Barrier. But that changes when Gabry and some of her friends risk the Barrier one night too many. The Mudo attack them and those who survive the attack are imprisoned. What follows is a series of events that shatters everything Gabry has known. Narrator Tara Sands does a fine job at expressing the teen rebellion shown by the initial group convinced that the Barrier is no longer needed, while slowly introducing the desperation that nearly consumes Gabry as the story progresses. While fully voiced, there are times when the vocal patterns become inconsistent, making it challenging to track the characters. There are also times when the panic and desperation drag, but it is unclear if this is more a result of the story becoming melodramatic or the tone of the narrator. Nonetheless, the audio is mildly addictive, and listeners who can comfortably reconcile the zombie killings with the romantic conflicts Garby experiences through much of the second half will be satisfied. And they will be left looking forward to another installment by author Ryan, a graduate of Duke University School of law and former litigator who now writes full time. - Stephanie A. Squicciarini
Scott, Michael. The Necromancer. The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel. Read by Paul Boehmer. 9 CD. 11.25 hrs. Recorded Books. 2010. 978-0-3077-1079-6. Library Edition. Ages 12+
Sophie and Josh Newman's adventures with the alchemyst Nicholas Flamel and the sorceress, Flamel's wife Perenelle, continue in this, the fourth book in the series, The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott. Sophie is kidnapped by Aoife, the warrior. Josh joins with the Flamels to find her only to discover that Aoife is in search of her twin sister, Scathach, who disappeared with Joan of Arc during a fight against the cucubuths sent by the Dark Elders in Paris. Retrieving Sophie, Josh and the Flamels agree to help Aoife and in turn, Aoife agrees to help them prevent Dr. John Dee and the Dark Elders from destroying the world of the humani using the ancient, deadly creatures imprisoned on Alcatraz.
Narrator Paul Boehmer, who also narrated the other volumes in the series has a good voice for storytelling, one that draws the listener in. He captures the personalities of each characters, so the reader recognizes who is speaking, and his pronunciation is clear and understandable. This audio version makes all the odd names and terminology accessible to younger listeners and for those who might struggle with the written text. Using the book while listening would be a great opportunity for struggling readers to experience an adventure that otherwise might be beyond their grasp. Book one in this series is The Alchemyst; book two, The Magician; and book three, The Sorceress. An authority on mythology and folklore, Michael Scott is one of Ireland's most successful authors. - Anna Bayerl
McCormick, Patricia. Purple Heart. Read by James Colby. 4 CDs. 5 hrs. Recorded Books. 2009/2010. 978-1-4498-1053-5. Library Edition. Ages 12+
What do you do when you can't trust the images in your brain? Young Private Matt Duffy, stationed in Iraq, is hospitalized after an incident he can't remember. He is confused and disoriented, and immediately diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury. He struggles with headaches, mood swings, and weakness in his legs, and doesn't know how or why he earned the Purple Heart he received. The one thing he is certain about is that his friend Ali, a ten-year-old Iraqi boy, was involved in the skirmish, and Matt may have shot him. With the help of some kind hospital personnel, he begins to organize some of his jumbled memories. He still has many more questions than answers, even when he returns to his unit and attempts to reconnect with his best friend, who has suddenly become distant. Readers find out the disturbing truth along with Matt in this timely and deeply affecting novel by former journalist and National Book Award finalist Patricia McCormick, who is also the author of several other novels for teens, including My Brother's Keeper, Cut, and Sold. Jim Colby, veteran audiobook narrator, brings the book to life with his engaging semi-voiced reading. His tone perfectly conveys Matt's transition from confusion and anger to eventual recovery. - Olivia Durant
Sharon Draper. Out of My Mind. Read by Sisi Aisha Johnson. 6 CDs. 7 hrs. Recorded Books. 2010. 978-1-4407-5615-3. Library Edition.Ages 9-12.
Eleven-year-old Melody has never spoken a word out loud. Although she fully comprehends everything around her, her disabilities prevent her from communicating her thoughts. Melody suffers from cerebral palsy and is physically unable to move or talk. Doctors tell her parents she is "brain-damaged;" however, in reality, Melody has a brilliant, photographic mind.
The narrative, told from Melody's point of view, allows the reader a rare look into Melody's thoughts and dreams. Her amazing outlook on life and ability to cope with her physical limitations is astounding. During the fifth grade, Melody is provided with an assistive device, called a Medi-Talker, which allows her to "speak" using only her thumbs. For the first time in her life, Melody can express her own thoughts and feelings with words. She finally gets to say "I love you" to her parents and "thank you" to a few of the amazing aides and teachers who have helped her. Her subsequent experiences in a mainstream classroom offer both disappointments and triumphs. However, through it all, Melody shows great intelligence, humor, strength and spirit.
Sisi Aisha Johnson gives a wonderful performance which adds additional layers to Award winning author Sharon Draper's work. Melody's voice is powerful and unforgettable. Highly recommended. - Danielle Lord.
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Betsy Ross and the Making of America by Marla R. Miller
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*Gene of Isis by Traci Harding
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The Woman who Fell from the Sky by Jennifer Steil
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Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
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The Book of Spies by Gayle Lynds
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*Innocent by Scott Turow
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George, Nicholas and Wilhelm by Miranda Carter
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