THE OUTCAST Guardians of Ga'Hoole, Book 8

Pamela Garelick narrates a fascinating tale about the power that stories have to influence the world. Nyroc, a young barn owl, longs to be a Guardian of Ga'Hoole, but his tyrannical mother plots to bring down his legendary heroes. Finding a way to give owls, snakes, wolves, and spirits their own distinctive voices, Garelick leads the reader on a journey about free will, legendary powers, and the discovery of a king. Many of Lasky's characters speak with a thick Scottish burr, which Garelick handles well alongside the sibilant hissing of snakes. She brings to life the voice of young Nyroc as he questions his very existence and portrays his subsequent maturation into an owl named Coryn who is brimming with confidence and conviction. Lasky and Garelick have given listeners another winner. R.A. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2009]