The Silver Arrow by Lev Grossman. Unabridged downloadable e-audiobook. ~3 hours, 52 minute. Read by Simon Vance. Hachette Audio, September, 2020. 9781549106743. (Review of downloadable e-audiobook borrowed from the public library.)
Middle Grade Monday features The Silver Arrow by Lev Grossman. This is Mr. Grossman's middle grade debut. He usually writes for a YA audience.
Kate is about to turn eleven. She's facing a ho-hum birthday thanks to her busy parents. She writes a letter to her Uncle Herbert, whom she's never met because he's very, very rich and very irresponsible. He shows up on her birthday with a locomotive called, The Silver Arrow. This is not a toy, but a real locomotive that Kate and her brother, Tom, later learn is sentient. It communicates with them through printed messages and soon whisks them off to the railyard where the two need to choose train cars for their journey. Kate, a book lover, chooses a library car and Tom chooses a candy car. At each stop on their journey, animals bearing tickets board the train. Kate and Tom learn of the plight of each and try their hardest to get the animals to their destinations, but it might be too late for the polar bear.
Simon Vance is a favorite narrator of mine. He has a variety of voices for each animal. The voices he chose fit their personalities and adds a level of enjoyment. There's a definite message, but an important one. If you enjoy magic and adventure, this eco-fable is for you.
Kate is about to turn eleven. She's facing a ho-hum birthday thanks to her busy parents. She writes a letter to her Uncle Herbert, whom she's never met because he's very, very rich and very irresponsible. He shows up on her birthday with a locomotive called, The Silver Arrow. This is not a toy, but a real locomotive that Kate and her brother, Tom, later learn is sentient. It communicates with them through printed messages and soon whisks them off to the railyard where the two need to choose train cars for their journey. Kate, a book lover, chooses a library car and Tom chooses a candy car. At each stop on their journey, animals bearing tickets board the train. Kate and Tom learn of the plight of each and try their hardest to get the animals to their destinations, but it might be too late for the polar bear.
Simon Vance is a favorite narrator of mine. He has a variety of voices for each animal. The voices he chose fit their personalities and adds a level of enjoyment. There's a definite message, but an important one. If you enjoy magic and adventure, this eco-fable is for you.
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