Multimedia Reviews/Audio

versational tone tbat is easy to follow, tbougb at times facts are presented too quickly to take notes. A few more maps, timelines, and charts could bave been usefiil. A funetional seeondary source of information if used in conjunction witb classroom discussion.-/essica Miller, New Britain Public Library, CT shares with her uncaring mother in an English country village, 13-year old Meggy Swann is unceremoniously shipped off to London to live with her father. Upon her arrival, Meggy finds her father to be a cold and distant alchemist. He's disappointed that not only is she a girl, but sbe is crippled and bas to walk witli the aid of canes. Meggy, along with her only friend and companion, a white goose named Louise, . is left to fend for herself in a eity that is dangerous, chaotic, crowded, and dirty. Life is espeeially ehallenging for her in London in 1573 bcause people witb pbysieal deformities are viewed with suspicion and considered cursed by tbe devil. As Meggy leams to adapt to ber circumstances, sbe meets new people, makes some friends, and spoils a plot to poison a member of tbe royal court, saving ber fatlier's life in tbe proeess. Katberine Kellgren's lively read-' ing of Karen Cusbman's novel (Clarion,' 2010) is flawless, capturing Meggy's feisty temperament in tbe period language. Her narration of a wide-range of aecents if excellent, and she does a wonderfi.il job singing tbe ballads tliat Meggy composes and sings. The sights and sounds of the era and the sense of plaee and time are vividly depicted as Meggy grows in confidence and independence, using available resources and ber wit, eourage, and detemiination to forge a place for berself in lier new world.Mary Oluonye, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH level of suspense. Tbe plot is similar to a Scooby Doo mystery, but does not bave tbe same characterization. Nonetheless, ehildren will find this an enjoyable listen.-Lori A. Cuenthner, Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Baltimore, MD Booml 3 CDs. 3:46 brs. Prod, by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2010. ISBN 978-0-7393-8136-7. $28. Gr 7-9-Wlien Jimbo bears tbat he might be expelled from school, his best friend bas a plan to find out if the rumor is true. The two boys bide a walkie-talkie in tbe teaeber's lounge, but end up hearing more than they planned on. Soon they are being pursued by people witb amazing powers wbo lead tbem on a cbase across England to places beyond their wildest dreams. The well-paeed, rollicking story line vacillates between bairraising and bilarious. Tbe relationsbips between the three main characters, especially the love-hate relationship Jimbo bas with his leather-clad, motorcycle-riding older sister, are realistic and charming. Even the secondary characters are unique and interesting. Julian Rhind-Tutt reads Mark Haddon's book (Random/David Fickling Books, 2010) witb a pronounced blue-collar Britisb accent. He reproduces tbe cadenees and idioms of a London teen vVitb deligbtful autbenticity and makes eacb cbaracter sound unique. Tliis book contains language that might be offensive to some, but tbe swearing is in keeping witb tbe age of tbe ebaraeters and tbe setting. Some British slang might be unfamiliar, but tbe meaning is usually diseernable in context. Jimbo's adventure is much lighter and less philosophical than Only You Can Save Mankirid (HarperCollins, 2006), but lias some Pratchett-like random spontaneity. A great choice for reluctant readers, especially boys, and anyone wbo is in tbe mood for a bit of fun.-Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT The Gall of the Wild (unabr.) 3 CDs 3:10 brs. Prod, by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2010. ISBN 978-0-3077-1028-4. $30. Gr 7 Up-Jack London's classic story of survival in tbe harsh landseape of the Yukon is expertly brougbt to life by Jeff Daniels's narration. Tbe story of fonr-year-old Buck, a sbepherd mix, is an exeiting adventure story that is still relevant more than 100 years after its first publication. Buck, stolen off a train in California, finds himself in Alaska, where he is savagely beaten by a man in a red sweater. Soon be is sold to a team of prospeetors wbo are part of Alaska's Cold Rusb. Buck quickly learns tbat to survive in tbe unforgiving climate of tbe nortb, be must obey and eonform to bis masters' wishes. Daniels reads the tale with eompaswww.sU.com

Audio
Many of these titles are available for download and/or in Playaway format. Check distributors' Web sites, playaway.com, and audio download retailers for availability and price.

Painting through Music: An Introduction to the Visual Arts {Scholastic Music Series). CD. approx. 25 min. witb tcbr's. guide online. CDBaby.com. 2010. $14.97. Gr 5 Up-Twelve paintings representative of different art movements are matcbed witb musical compositions to enhance the learning experience. Tlie schools of art represented include Renaissanee, Baroque, Neoelassieal. Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, Pointillism, Expressionism, Cubism, De Stijl, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism. Students are encouraged to listen to the musie while viewing and learning about tbe painting, tbe artist, and the time period. The CD contains only the musical compositions. The artwork can be aeeessed in tbe online teaeber's guide (bttp://sites.google.eom/site/teacbersguides), downloaded and printed from the guide's pdf file, or inexpensive postcard size prints can be purcbased. Among the works of art presented are "Last Day of Pompeii" by Karl Briullov (Neoelassicism), "Tbe Cellist" by Josepb DeCamp (Impressionism), "Tbe Circus" by Ceorge Seurat (Post-Impressionism), and "Number 18" by Jackson Pollock (Abstract Impressionism). Tlie classical instrumental musie was selected by DJ/producer Jonatban Peters to refleet tbe mood or story bebind each painting. The teaeher's guide gives a brief overview of tbe art period, painting, and artist, as well as suggested aetivities and resources. Tbis program is a great way to teaeh art history and appreciation by relating art to music.-/eana Actkinson. Adjunct, ESC Region XI, Ft. Worth, TX

'K'Alchemy and Meggy Swann (unabr.). 4 CDs. 4:23 brs. Prod, by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/ Books on Tape. 2010. ISBN 978-03077-1024-6. $38. Gr 5-8-Uprooted from tbe home she

The Beast of Blackslope: The Sherlock Files, Book 2 (unabr.). 3 CDs. 3:35 brs. Prod, by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2010. ISBN 978-0-3077-197-0. $30. Gr 4-6-Xena and Xander Holmes, vacationing in tbe Englisb village of Blackslope, find themselves in the middle of a unsolved mystery in this installment (Clarion, 2010) in the series by Tracy Barrett. Tbe brother and sister are great-great-great grandchildren of the famous Sherloek Holmes and have the detective's cold case notebook. Residents claim to see and bear a beastlike creature during tbe night, just like they did a hundred years ago. Are the two eases related? The suspeets are plentiful because of the potential profit involved. The local bookstore owner wrote a book about tbe beast tbat has not sold well and their playmate, Trevor, is trying to earn money for a trip to Australia. Xena and Xander unwittingly stumble upon tbe perpetrators wbile following one of tbeir suspects. However, they are still left scratching their heads about Sherlock's case. American and British accents are used by narrator Josepb Allen Nelson, but tbe reading is a bit flat. Some sound effects eould have boosted tbe

54 School Library Journal O C T O B E R 2010

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