WEASEL

Two dogs snoring by the fire make the only sounds in a silent backwoods cabin in Ohio on a summer night in 1839. When a sudden knock at the door sends the dogs into a frenzy, Nathan, with his sister, Molly, begins a journey to find his lost and injured father and to uncover the truth about the mysterious and fearsome Weasel, a man whose hatred has transformed him into an inhuman monster, capable of unspeakable acts. Jeff Woodman employs careful modulation of tone, his urgency carrying the story forward at moments of highest tension, his relaxed narration filling in the background between plot points. While Nathan's voice is earnest and clear, and Weasel's deep drawl is frighteningly real, the hollow voice of Pa is less convincing. Nevertheless, this will be a popular choice among middle-grade listeners who love adventure stories with a dose of danger. T.B. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/MAR 99]