In this combination fairy tale and nursery rhyme, the once predictable Jack and Jill find themselves tested by obstacles far more dangerous than any hill. Johnny Heller narrates this grisly send-up of the cautionary tale. Heller's naturally ebullient and playful voice creates an enjoyable yet disturbing contrast between content and delivery. His role is both storyteller and herald, and listeners will learn quickly to trust his earnest warnings of what lies ahead. Heller manages alternately to conjure and frighten, then reassure, heightening anticipation. Sensitive listeners may be put off by the gruesomeness that sets the stage for the children's journey, but rest assured, their ultimate triumph balances the despair. Perfect for the listener who enjoys the macabre mixed with melodrama. A.S. 2014 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine
(Fantasy. 11-14)Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2013
Duration: 6 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781470361792
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Henry's parents are kidnapped while they travel the world. Henry is confused and lost when he's sent to his aunt, uncle, and cousins in Kansas. His bewilderment increases when the plaster of his bedroom walls cracks to disclose 100 strange cupboards that are portals to odd places. Vivid descriptions of fascinating lands hold listeners' attention through the story's many unexplained facts as does the steady, solid narration by Russell Horton. Horton accurately modulates the characters' up-and-down emotions, adapting his pace quickly to the changes. Listeners are able to keep up with the rapidly introduced characters because of Horton's stand-out portrayals.
Ages 8+Pub Date: Dec. 26, 2007
Duration: 6 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780739362778
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A cast of narrators shares these stories, each told from the point of view of a supporting character from Riordan's Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series. We hear from Halfborn Gunderson, Samirah al-Abbas, Alex Fierro, and more. In "So's Your Face!" narrator Sile Bermingham gives fiery einherji Mallory Keen an Irish lilt, and in "I Play with Fire," Bahni Turpin gets to pull out the stops creating voices for a meeting of immortals in Muspellheim. Riordan's signature humor is here--Thor makes a guest appearance in each story, running through the nine worlds in his leather short shorts. The characterizations might not quite match what listeners heard in earlier installments, but diehard Magnus Chase fans can still enjoy this collection.
(Fantasy. 8-14)Pub Date: Oct. 2, 2018
Duration: 3 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780525641834
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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