When four 12-year-olds—one from Shanghai, one from New York, one from Paris, and one the hotelier's daughter—unexpectedly find themselves sharing a hotel room in Rome, adventure is bound to ensue. On this December 29, as the friends set off in a blacked-out city, an unusual man gives them custody of his briefcase a short time before his death. The contents of the briefcase lead to a whirlwind of intrigue and danger. Carrington MacDuffie modulates the flow of events, speeding up as Elettra and her new friends scramble to keep ahead of those who are also pursuing the Ring of Fire and slowing down to recount key story details. MacDuffie gives individuality to each character, adding a hint of her native country to each of the main characters and giving spice to the myriad of supporting ones.
Ages 10+Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2009
Duration: 8 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A classic story of high adventure and conflict between good and evil placed in the mythical land of Prydain, The Book of Three is read grippingly and enchantingly by Chris King. Vocal switches are mostly smooth with a few minor pronunciation slips which are quickly corrected. King's voice is clear, easy to understand and memorable, giving the listener a sense of the characters as well as a pronunciation guide to those incredible Gaelic names Alexander uses. Both the characters and the story linger in the mind's eye because of the quality of narration. This is surely a reading that can be listened to again and again and will leave the listeners asking for the entire Prydain series on tape.
AGES 8+Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 5 hrs
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Posy Bates is back, this time with a dog left over from a pet show. Back also are baby Fred and her friend, Sam. But the star of the show is Posy herself, an energetic nine-year-old with a penchant for misadventure. Judy Bennett's rendering of each of the characters in this episodic family story is right on the mark. Her enunciation and impeccable timing clarify the idiomatic text so that its unusual words become another aspect of the book's pleasure. The irrepressible Posy is her greatest challenge, and Bennett gets high marks. She bubbles with enthusiasm, wails and squeals, and dies over and over again. "It's positively brilling!"
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 1 hr
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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