As the wealthy Lockwood family flees London during the Blitz of WWII, they decide to take in an evacuee. Twelve-year-old Cecily chooses May Bright to join them at remote Heron Hall. Narrator Jennifer Vuletic is sublime; the two girls are vastly different, and hearing their voices adds tremendously to listener interest. She also captures 14-year-old Jeremy Lockwood’s feeling of helplessness toward the distant war. Through their voices, we can almost SEE their cold mother and charming but disappointing father. Every night Uncle Peregrine (and Vuletic) splendidly regales the children with tales about nearby Snow Castle. The lyrical story illustrates how everyone in society is affected by war and the misuse of power. An epilogue allows listeners to follow the characters long after the war.
Young AdultPub Date: Dec. 1, 2012
Duration: 7 hrs
Publisher: Bolinda Audio
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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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