From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8–Three tales of the supernatural are rejuvenated in this spellbinding performance of Newbery Medalist Paul Fleischman's 1982 novel that is now back in print (Candlewick, 2006). The voices of actors Paul Michael, Susan Denaker, and Lincoln Hoppe provide a cushioning effect for these eerie stories about the secret lives of statues. Hoppe nails the youthful voice of a love-struck boy in Saint Crispin's Follower, and Denaker's narration of The Binnacle Boy gently introduces listeners to the hidden knowledge of a shipboard statue. Michael has an uncanny ability to dramatically change his voice and switch easily between accents. He presents an especially compelling performance as a sculptor and his model in the final story, The Man of Influence. The rich and mysterious lives of graven images are detailed further in the production's closing remarks as Fleischman divulges what inspired him to write his short stories. Older readers who have moved beyond Alvin Schwartz's
Scary Stories will find more than enough spooky thrills in this fascinating audio production.–
Celeste Steward, Alameda County Library, Fremont, CA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Three short stories revolve around a quirky theme: the role of a statue in delivering a person's inevitable reckoning. The first and last stories are dark and even a bit spooky, describing the wooden statue that survived a mysterious shipboard disaster and a desperate Italian marble sculptor who takes on a questionable assignment. In contrast, the middle story, which incorporates a weathervane, enjoys more whimsy. A different narrator for each story provides suitable separation and diversity in the compilation. The author's brief afterward explains his inspiration and provides insight for young aspiring writers but would have been more meaningful if read by the author. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine--
Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
