Ghost Knight By Cornelia Funke: Book & Audiobook Review

Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; Reissue edition (May 1, 2012)
Buy The Book: Amazon

---

AUDIOBOOK
Ghost Knight
UNABRIDGED
By Cornelia Funke
Narrated by Elliot Hill
Publisher: Listening Library
Length:4 hrs and 53 mins
Buy the Audio: Audible

Jon didn't expect to be confronted by a pack of vengeful ghosts at his new boarding school. Now he and his friend Ella must uncover a centuries-old murder, all while haunted by terrifying spirits. When Jon summons the ghost of Knight Longspee, only one question remains-can Longspee be trusted?

 The Audio:

The guy AKA Elliot Hill was good but you can't tell people by there voice unless one is high pitched and the other really low. There was one voice that I knew well though and I was always happy to hear it. LONGSPEE!!!! The voice was pretty good and the Elliot played him well. In good audio book readers I can see the actions happening just behind the words. Cornelia describes stuff in detail and Elliot brings the words on the pages to life. Be sure to catch a  clip of the reading on the Audible link above! My second favorite voice was Ella's.  He had a pretty good voice but none compares to the voice of William Longspee. I know Longspee is a awkward name but you'll grow to jump for joy when you hear his name in the book. I finished this in one day seeing as it's like 5 hours long. Even so small it is VERY in detail and great.

The Book:

I loved it. Though readers should not be 8 and up to read this in my opinion. They cussed a few times and  who wants there 8 year old listening to cuss book. Maybe 11 and up? I don't really know. Anyways I thought that the detail was perfect and what the characters did I think real people would do, if the saw a ghost that is. When i saw the cover I knew it would be a good book. I mean ghost's are cool! Knights are so awesome! I don't know right now who is on the cover maybe Longspee?? *shrugs*.  My favorite character you probably already guessed..........Drumroll please..........Longspee!! he was a brave knight and he is filling his promise he could not fill when he was alive. I loved him even though in some parts Jon did not think Longspee could be trusted. My second favorite you guessed correct ELLA! I liked her because she's brave and can stand up for her self and fight ghosts her grandmother is a ghost house guide for tourists. This book is in past tense Jon his telling his story years later. That didn't bother me though. Well I think thats it for this review thanks for your time! BUT WAIT THERES MORE! If you like spooky books, Ghost books, Sad but Happy books then you'd love it just like me. Bye!

Note to Parents

There are a few cuss words:

Ba****- 4

Da**- 5

A**- 1

The Son Of Neptune by Rick Riordan

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan
Reading level: Ages 10 and up
Hardcover: 544 pages
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH; First Edition edition (October 4, 2011)
Buy The Book: Amazon

Percy is confused. When he awoke after his long sleep, he didn’t know much more than his name. His brain-fuzz is lingering, even after the wolf Lupa told him he is a demigod and trained him to fight. Somehow Percy managed to make it to the camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he had to continually kill monsters that, annoyingly, would not stay dead. But the camp doesn't ring any bells with him.

Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn’t do a very good job of it. When the Voice took over her mother and commanded Hazel to use her “gift” for an evil purpose, Hazel couldn’t say no. Now, because of her mistake, the future of the world is at risk.

This book is about Percy Jackson. He lost his memory because Juno, aka Hera, has taken it and sent him to a Roman camp called Camp Jupiter. Juno sent him to try to bring the Greek camp, Camp Half-Blood, and the Roman camp, Camp Jupiter, together. Rome and Greece have a rivalry. There are giants that are the sons of Gia the Goddess of the earth and they are trying to beat the gods.

 I really liked this book and I hope the next one comes out soon. I recommend this book to people who like the gods and action. You should read Percy Jackson and the Olympians. The reader on the audiobook is good after you get used to him.

The Invisible Tower by Nils Johnson-Shelton

Reading level: Ages 10 and up
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (January 3, 2012)
Buy The Book: Amazon
Listening Length: 7 hours and 43 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Harper Audio
Buy The Audio: Audible

In Artie Kingfisher's world, wizards named Merlin, fire-breathing dragons, and swords called Excalibur exist only in legends and lore - until the day his video game Otherworld springs to life.
You are special, Arthur, Says the mysterious message in his game. In one week's time you will come to me at the it.
Cryptic clues lead Artie to a strange place called the Invisible Tower, where he discovers that nothing in his life is as it seems. Artie is none other than King Arthur, brought to life in the twenty-first century. Artie has won the battle in the virtual Otherworld - now the key to saving the real Otherworld lies in his hands as well.
Green dragons, hungry wolves, powerful sorcerers - suddenly Artie must battle them all as he wields Excalibur and embarks on a quest worthy of the Knights of the Round Table. With his sister, Kay, by his side, Artie steps into the Otherworld - straight toward his destiny.

I really liked this book.   It is funny and has action, adventure, and fantasy.  I like how the book is like The Sword and the Stone.  My favorite character is Arty.  He is funy and brave.

I listened to it on audio and like the reader.  I would suggest it to people who like The Sword and the Stone and fantasy!

Here's my sister, Reagan's review!

Otherworld Chronicles: The Invisible Tower: By Nils Johnson-Shelton

Reading level: Ages 10 and up
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (January 3, 2012)
Buy The Book: Amazon
Listening Length: 7 hours and 43 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Harper Audio
Buy The Audio: Audible

In Artie Kingfisher's world, wizards named Merlin, fire-breathing dragons, and swords called Excalibur exist only in legends and lore - until the day his video game Otherworld springs to life.
You are special, Arthur, Says the mysterious message in his game. In one week's time you will come to me at the it.
Cryptic clues lead Artie to a strange place called the Invisible Tower, where he discovers that nothing in his life is as it seems. Artie is none other than King Arthur, brought to life in the twenty-first century. Artie has won the battle in the virtual Otherworld - now the key to saving the real Otherworld lies in his hands as well.
Green dragons, hungry wolves, powerful sorcerers - suddenly Artie must battle them all as he wields Excalibur and embarks on a quest worthy of the Knights of the Round Table. With his sister, Kay, by his side, Artie steps into the Otherworld - straight toward his destiny.

I listened to this book, but I'll talk about both

The Book:

It was pretty funny. Like if you read a book like this it's bound to be funny right! Well that's just the case for me at least. So I think that it was also very creative using the sword and the stone story and twisting it to be something funny, AWESOME, cool, and amazing. Okay it's also epic in a fighting and dragon and creative way. My mom always says I say epic and no one knows what it means. Ahh well. So I think that this epic is a creative, dragon powers awesome kind of epic. It's easier to explain in typing then in speaking. So I think my favorite character is Kay Kingfisher. Because she it not afraid to fight people, she's a video game freak, Kay is also epic in a fighting and great at video game type of way. My second favorite character is Tom Thumb. He's the size of a thumb in our world and he's epic in an, even though I'm small I can whip your butt in three seconds. He's also a bit funny. Has anyone else noticed that my favorite character is normally a boy?? If you have please say so in the comments below!!

The Audio:


I thought that the reader, Patrick Lawer, was really good. He also sounded a lot like a boy, not like an adult.... Isn't that weird how they do that??? I think it is!! So he didn't do many different voices. Like the boys voices and the girls voices where pretty similar, so you can't recognize people by their voices except Tom Thumb, and Merlin(don't know his last name...:D) really. So he was good reader but over all I wish he had done voices. But his actual voice was good so it wasn't bad :D. I think that the best voice he does is Merlin's voice. Not how I'd have done it but it was really good all the same.... :D.
:D, :), :(, >:[, O.O ;) That's it!

 

Winterling By Sara Prineas

Reading level: Ages 10 and up
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins and Harper Audio (January 3, 2012)

Narrated by Erin Moon
Buy The Book: Hardcover | Audible

With her boundless curiosity and wild spirit, Fer has always felt that she doesn’t belong. Not when the forest is calling to her, when the rush of wind through branches feels more real than school or the quiet farms near her house. Then she saves an injured creature—he looks like a boy, but he’s really something else. He knows who Fer truly is, and invites her through the Way, a passage to a strange, dangerous land.

Fer feels an instant attachment to this realm, where magic is real and oaths forge bonds stronger than iron. But a powerful huntress named the MÓr rules here, and Fer can sense that the land is perilously out of balance. Fer must unlock the secrets about the parents she never knew and claim her true place before the worlds on both sides of the Way descend into endless winter.

I listened to half the book on audio but the other half I actually read. I'll talk about the audio first. The reader, Erin Moon, was really good, she really sounded like a little girl when she did Fer's voice, and she sounded like an old lady when she did Grand-Janes's voice. So the audio was easy to go through, and fun to listen to. I think I like it best when she did Rooks voice because it was rough like it was supposed to be and deep like a boys is.  Listen to a sample here!

Now I'll talk about the book. The book had no errors as far as I know which was a relief! And it had no bad language or romance, but a little violence. I enjoyed the reading part almost as much as the listening part! Almost. I think it it was slower for me reading than listening. It took me like a week to read this book though, if that counts for anything.  I didn't realize that the author of this book, Sara Prineas, also is the author of The Magic Thief series! (See my review of the Magic Thief HERE) So as I also enjoyed her writing in the Magic Thief I enjoyed the writing here, it was really excellent. The names were very creative, cute, and I liked them all. I think my favorite character is Rook, the mischievous puck boy who can shift into a horse and a dog. He's funny (at least I think so....:)) , and I imagine him cute. But that's just me lol. I think my second favorite character is Fer, cause she's brave always, never scared (which is just plain weird but admirable). I also liked Fer's horse. Can't say his name here! I'm giving too much away already lol. I think if you like books for brave girls, fantasy, and hunting, this is the book for you!!!

Maze Of Bones: The 39 Clues: By Rick Riordan

Reading level: Ages 9 and up
Hardcover: 220 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1st edition (September 9, 2008)'
Buy The Book: Amazon
Read by David Pittu
Title and Author
Maze Of Bones: The 39 Clues by Rick Riordan

Plot Summary
This book is about Amy and Dan Cahill. Their parents had died in a fire so all they had left was each other, a grudging aunt, and their very loving grandmother who they just called Grace. So when Grace dies they are left with practically no one to love. Then they are invited to read the will of their beloved Grace and find out that generations of Cahills have tried to make this race, puzzle, and treasure hunt and Grace has succeed in making the 39 clues the siblings are left with a choice, either take a million dollars, or take the clue which would take then on their way to finding the 39 clues but their Aunt had threatened to disown them and call social serves seeing as they had no one but each other to love they took the challenge. But this book is only the first clue to finding them all.

The Audio book review
David Pittu was the reader, and I liked him a lot.  He did different voices for the characters and he wasn't annoying.  At the end of the audio book it has something the book doesn't.....

Main Characters
Grace Cahill- Even though she's dead she plays a pretty big part in the book Amy Cahill- 14 year old is brave and a coward at the same time. She cares for her brother so much because he's all she has left. She has her point of view every chapter or so. Dan Cahill- 11 years old is braver than his sister Amy but is also a bit of a weirdo. Madison, Reagan(OMG she acts like I do....ahhhh!!! Twins with Madison), Hamilton(Oldest), Eisenhower(dad), Mary-Todd(mom), Arnold (The pit bull): The Holt family are mean and strong all looking like they just came out of boot camp. William McIntyre: He is Grace's Lawyer and help's Amy and Dan with the clues. Sinead, Ned, and Ted: These are triplets That aren't in the book much. Irina Spasky: A Russian Cahill who is more than she looks. Jonah Wizard: A famous TV actor, singer, and book writer who is surprisingly a Cahill His Dad: That is what Jonah Wizards dad is referred to in the book always trailing Jonah. Ian and Natalie Kabra: These brother and sister are rich and can do what ever and when ever they want when they want it. They are dangrous and cant ever be trusted. Alistair Oh: This old man is tricky and you never know who's side he's on. Aunt Beatrice: Sister to Grace she doesn't love Amy and Dan just is their Guardian but never see's them just hires an Au Pair Nellie Gomez: The latest Au Pair who accompanies Amy and Dan places

Setting
Almost every were in France, In Boston, An air port.

Personal Opinion
I liked it, because is was filled with adventure, and mystery. My favorite Character is, *Drums hands on wall* Reagan Holt. She is tough and kind and getting soft though her dad would kill her if he found out.

AudioBook Review: The Search for Wondla by Tony DiTerlizzi read by Teri Hatcher

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio; Unabridged edition (September 21, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1442334282
ISBN-13: 978-1442334281
Buy the Book: Amazon

Twelve-year-old Eva Nine has spent her entire life living in Sanctuary, an underground compound where she is cared for by the motherly robot, Muthr (Multi-Utility Task Help Robot). She's never met another human nor visited the surface and she longs to do both, dreaming of a world - and of the companionship and love to be found there - that she's only seen glimpses of on scraps of paper. When Sanctuary is attacked, Eva is forced to escape to the surface alone, where she soon finds that the reality of life there is more amazing and puzzling than she ever imagined. It is also far more dangerous.

Book Review

 I really liked this book. It was AMAZING! I think that The Search For Wondla is in my top ten favorite books. If you like stuff like Harry Potter and the Tigers Curse Series, you will enjoy this book. The book was a little sad, so sad I almost cried. I think I would like to listen to the audio again or maybe actually read it next time. My favorite character was Eva, I liked how she was really brave, and because she is trying to find another human.

Audiobook Review

The reader Teri Hatcher, does really well on reading the story and she also does really well on the different characters. To me, she is the female, non-British Jim Dayle. Teri Hatcher is one of my favorite readers. I would give her 4 Crowns. That's how good I thought she was.

We love our followers! =)

Book

Audio book

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 7 hours and 51 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Harper Audio
Audible.com Release Date: September 27, 2011
Ready by:  Kirby Heyborne
Buy the book:  Audible | Hardcover

Once upon a time, Hazel and Jack were best friends. But that was before he stopped talking to her and disappeared into a forest with a mysterious woman made of ice. Now it's up to Hazel to go in after him. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen," Breadcrumbs is a story of the struggle to hold on, and the things we leave behind.

Vlog Review: Seekers by Erin Hunter

Reading level: Ages 10 and up
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins; Reprint edition (February 10, 2009)
Buy the book:  Amazon

Three bears . . . one destiny
From the author of the nationally bestselling Warriors books comes a brand-new animal fantasy series. Three young bears from different species—black, polar, and grizzly—are separated from their families when they are just young cubs. They find themselves brought together on a perilous journey. Fate is about to change all these bears lives forever, setting their paws on a path toward a future they cannot yet imagine . . .

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 8 hours and 18 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Harper Audio
Audible.com Release Date: July 8, 2008
Buy the audio:  Audible

AudioBook Review: Dork Diaries by Rachel Renee Russel & Read by Lana Quintal

Dork Diaries: Tales From a Not-So-Fabulous Life by Rachel Renee Russell

Audio CD
Publisher:Simon & Schuster Audio; Unabridged edition (September 28, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1442338962
ISBN-13: 978-1442338968
Reader: Lana Quintal
Buy the Audio Book: Amazon

Dork Diaries follows eighth grader Nikki Maxwell as she chronicles through text and sketches her move to a snooty new school; her epic battle with her mom for an iPhone; her enthusiasm for drawing and art; and a love/hate fascination with the new school’s queen bee, a girl named Mackenzie, who becomes Nikki’s rival in a schoolwide art competition. Nikki writes about friendships, crushes, popularity, and family with a unique and fresh voice that still conveys a universal authenticity. Nikki’s sketches throughout her diary add humor and spunk to the book, a surefire hit with tween girl readers.



Dork Diaries: Tales From a Not-So-Popular Party Girl by Rachel Renee Russell

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 2 hours and 56 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Audible.com Release Date: September 28, 2010
Language: English
Reader: Lana Quintal
Buy the Audio Book: Amazon

Settled in at her new school and flanked by awesome friends Chloe and Zoey, life is looking up for Nikki Maxwell, especially since her crush, Brandon, asked her to be his lab partner - a seriously awesome development. However, when Nikki overhears mean girl Mackenzie bragging that Brandon's taking her to the Halloween dance, a bummed Nikki signs on to spend Halloween at a kids party with her little sister, Brianna, instead. After she finds out Mackenzie was lying and her dream of going to the party with Brandon could be a reality, Nikki has two events to juggle... plus plenty of other entertaining trials and tribulations along the way!



Dork Diaries: from a Not-So-Talented Pop Star by Rachel Renee Russell


Reading level: Ages 9-12
Audio CD
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio; Unabridged edition (June 7, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1442340460
ISBN-13: 978-1442340466
Reader: Lana Quintal
Buy the Audio Book: Amazon

Nikki Maxwell knows her reputation will be destroyed if anyone at school finds out her Dad works as the school’s exterminator in exchange for her academic scholarship. So when it looks like her secret might be leaked, Nikki’s willing to go to zany and wacky lengths to protect the truth—and the timing seems perfect when a major talent competition is announced with a school scholarship offered as the top prize. Nikki loves to sing and dance, but of course hijinks and misunderstandings aplenty ensue, along with more hilarious and heartwarming moments with all our favorite characters in this ultra-popular series.Dork Diaries 3


AudioBook Review:

So... the audio part was pretty good, I mean it wasn't my kind of book, but it was pretty good! I thought that the reader was a really good reader. I thought that Lana Quinlan did very well on the voices and she was very entertaining with the reading. I also think that if you like girly books that this is your kind of book! This audiobook (all three) was pretty entertaining and it wasn't very long so I breezed right through it!


What I liked about the book...

My Favorite character was Nikki, and she is the main character. Why I liked her was because she didn't always say "OMG! OMG! OMG!" And I liked that about her, she didn't want to be a really big popular girl. So that is what I liked about her! I like how there is a little bit of romance in the book, and I like scary books, but the only good scary books are YA books and  I cant read a lot of YA books! So as far as this book goes, it was well written and enjoyable.


AudioBook



Book

Free Audio Download: The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

The COMPLETE Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis – read by Chrissi Hart (Audiobooks)

Here's an amazing find: The COMPLETE seven book Narnia series by C. S. Lewis, in audiobook format. These programs were originally recorded for broadcast on the Ancient Faith Internet Radio station. The readings are downloadable or available as 101 half-hour podcasts, so between the seven books in the series, there's almost 50 hours.

If you have never read these books, this is a fantastic opportunity to start.  And if you have, this is a great way to revisit this amazing series.


Click here to go to the download page for THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA!

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment By James Patterson

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 464 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (April 1, 2007)
Audio CD

Publisher: Hachette Audio; Abridged edition (April 11, 2005)

Buy the book:  Audio, Paperback

In James Patterson's blockbuster series, fourteen-year-old Maximum Ride, better known as Max, knows what it's like to soar above the world. She and all the members of the "flock"--Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel--are just like ordinary kids--only they have wings and can fly. It may seem like a dream come true to some, but their lives can morph into a living nightmare at any time...like when Angel, the youngest member of the flock, is kidnapped and taken back to the "School" where she and the others were experimented on by a crew of wack jobs. Her friends brave a journey to blazing hot Death Valley, CA, to save Angel, but soon enough, they find themselves in yet another nightmare--this one involving fighting off the half-human, half-wolf "Erasers" in New York City. Whether in the treetops of Central Park or in the bowels of the Manhattan subway system, Max and her adopted family take the ride of their lives. Along the way Max discovers from her old friend and father-figure Jeb--now her betrayed and greatest enemy--that her purpose is save the world--but can she?

In this book Max and the flock, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman, and Angel, are living in peace until one day Erasers, people who can change from human to a wolf, attach their home and force them to leave and go on the run.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!!!!! I LOVED IT cause it's so adventurous!  My favorite people are Max, Angel, and Fang! I like Max because she was strong and cool! Then I like Fang because he is so like emo and stuff! I like Angel because she is cute and she can read minds! I LOVE this book it's so violent and stuff!!!!!!!

The reader was REALLY good. She had like awesome voices for everyone!  The audio that we listened to also had music and some sound effects.  Not too much, but it was different than others I've listened to.

Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw By Jeff Kinny

Listening Length: 2 hour(s) and 16 min.
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Recorded Books (July 9, 2009)
Buy the book:  Audio, Hardcover

Greg's dad, Frank, is on a mission - a mission to make this wimpy kid, well, less wimpy. All manner of 'manly' physical activities are planned, but Greg just about manages to find a way out of them. That is until military academy is mentioned and Greg realizes that he's going to have to come up with something very special to get out of this one... --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Plot Summary

So in this book Greg is trying to be helpful but NO ONE listens to him. Even when he tells his mom it would be better if she would chew her potato chips a little more quietly that would be great! And he also has to impress the 4th cutest girl in his class, Holly Hills.

Plot High Point

I don't really know....Thats REALLY hard....I'll think on that one.

Main Characters

Greg- Main carrie Rowley- Friend Fregly- creepy dude Holly Hills- Cute girl that Greg likes Mom- Greg's mom Dad- Greg's dad Manny- Greg's little brother Rodrick- Greg's big brother

Setting

School, House, street, car, movie. THIS IS IN THE PRESENT

Personal Opinion

It was kind of good. I thought it was funny, but maybe I'm getting too old for this type of book.  It's not exactly my type, but I liked some one else's life to listen to for once. It was a nice break from the fantasy I normally read.  The audiobook reader was kinda good.  Sometimes he made Greg sound a little bit snotty.  He did different voices, but since it was a journal, it was mostly Greg.  I'm going to give this audiobook to my little brother, he will probably love it!!

 

The Clockwork Three by Matthew J. Kirby

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press (October 1, 2010)
Author's Website:   http://matthewjkirby.com/kirbside/
Buy the book:  Audio, Hardcover

Three ordinary children are brought together by extraordinary events. . .

Giuseppe is an orphaned street musician from Italy, who was sold by his uncle to work as a slave for an evil padrone in the U.S. But when a mysterious green violin enters his life he begins to imagine a life of freedom.

Hannah is a soft-hearted, strong-willed girl from the tenements, who supports her family as a hotel maid when tragedy strikes and her father can no longer work.

She learns about a hidden treasure, which she knows will save her family -- if she can find it.

And Frederick, the talented and intense clockmaker's apprentice, seeks to learn the truth about his mother while trying to forget the nightmares of the orphanage where she left him. He is determined to build an automaton and enter the clockmakers guild -- if only he can create a working head.

Together, the three discover they have phenomenal power when they team up as friends, and that they can overcome even the darkest of fears.

This is one of the BEST book trailers I've ever seen!

This book was sitting on our shelves for months and months. Our copy is an uncorrected advanced reader copy and the cover only shows the clockwork man, without the kids, and it just didn't look that interesting. It was eventually this interview that made us decide to read the book.

We ended up requesting that our library order the audio cd so that we could listen to it together. Luckily our library is AWESOME, and they bought it.

Bransen's Thoughts:

I really loved this book.  I thought it had a LOT of adventure and activity.  My favorite character was Giuseppe.  I liked how the author sort of got this book off of real history.  I liked how Giuseppe ran away from his padrone, Stephano, and that he didn't care how badly he got punished, he just kept going.  I liked how he had good friends that would help him.

I loved how Frederick was so determined to build a clockwork.  Even though he made some bad decisions.  It was hard for him to trust Master Branch because he was brought up in an orphanage and was mistreated by the people in charge.  Hannah was so determined to help her father.  She made some bad decisions too, but she would do anything to help her father.

One of the things I really loved was how all the characters meet up in different parts of the book.  The book was told from all three of them in different chapters, and they would all see or meet each other a different times.  I really liked that.

I thought the audiobook reader was pretty good.  Jim Dale is still the best reader.  The voices he did were pretty good.  There was one part, where the Clockwork speaks that they made this cool sounding voice.  I loved that.

This is one of my top three favorite books.  Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, then this book.  I loved it and I hope there will be a sequel!!  I would suggest this book for anyone! 

Reagan's Thoughts:

I thought this book was pretty awesome because I'm an adventure person and this book was totally adventure.  My favorite character was Giueseppe because he is Italian and he's really tough and awesome.

My second favorite character is Hannah.  She is daring and she's a good "detective" and is willing to risk anything for her family.

I loved how this book was written.  I liked how sometimes Giueseppe and Pietro speak Italian.  There were so many characters I liked.  I also loved the setting.  McCaulley park was my favorite.

The reader was cool, except for Fredricks voice.  It seemed really snotty.  I liked the other voices for everyone else.  He did a really good job.

I would recommend this book to people who like Historical Fiction, Clockworks, and Adventure!

Mom's note:

This book is fantastic, but it does contain some pretty rough treatment of the boys by the Padrone.  There are quite a few times that Giuseppe is beaten, or put in very upsetting situations.  There are also slight paranormal elements. 

You can read my review on Reading Teen.

Audiobook Review: The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (May 25, 2004)
Buy The Book: Paperback, Audio

Armed only with a frying pan and her common sense, Tiffany Aching, a young witch-to-be, is all that stands between the monsters of Fairyland and the warm, green Chalk country that is her home. Forced into Fairyland to seek her kidnaped brother, Tiffany allies herself with the Chalk's local Nac Mac Feegle -- aka the Wee Free Men -- a clan of sheep-stealing, sword-wielding, six-inch-high blue men who are as fierce as they are funny. Together they battle through an eerie and ever-shifting landscape, fighting brutal flying fairies, dream-spinning dromes, and grimhounds -- black dogs with eyes of fire and teeth of razors -- before ultimately confronting the Queen of the Elves, absolute ruler of a world in which reality intertwines with nightmare. And in the final showdown, Tiffany must face her cruel power alone....

In a riveting narrative that is equal parts suspense and humor, Carnegie Medalist Terry Pratchett returns to his internationally popular Discworld with a breathtaking tale certain to leave fans, new and old, enthralled.

So I liked Tiffany and the Wee Free Men the most cause the Wee Free Men are funny and Tiffany is brave and she is never surprised or sad or gives up. I only kind-of liked it cause in some points it is hard to understand what is going on. I liked it cause it was funny and the monsters and things.

'Crivens! Whut aboot us, ye daftie!' 

The Wee Free Men were always saying the funniest things, and they had crazy names like Rob Anybody and No'-As-Big-As-Medium-Jock-But-Bigger-Than-Wee-Jock-Jock.  They were brave and would fight anyone at any time, but they were scared to DEATH of lawyers!!!  They are also know as the Nac Mac Feegle and they are little blue pixies.  NO, NOT PIXIES.....PICTSIES!  Don't get that wrong.  They were thrown out of fairyland for being drunk and disorderly, and now they cause trouble by fighting, and stealing sheep.  But when the Queen of the Fairies kidnaps Tiffany's pesky little brother, the Wee Free Men do whatever they can to help her get him back (even if their ways do end up causing a whole lot of trouble).

I listened to this one on audiobook, and the reader was AWESOME!!  He did voices, but it was more the way he read the book that made him so good.  Especially when he had to do the Wee Free Men, because they used strange words and had a funny accent.  I'm glad I listened to it, because I don't think I would have been able to pronounce half of what they said if I read it.  I would definitely recommend this on audio!

P.S.  My brother and my mom really liked it too.  And sometimes my mom would laugh at things, and I'm not sure why......