THE CASTLE IN THE MIST

Narrator Laraine Newman infuses magic into this story about children who discover a friendship that goes beyond time and place. Americans Tess and her brother, Max, are spending the summer in Hampshire, England, with their aunt. Newman captures the children’s initial reticence about their visit, separation from their father, and lack of access to the Internet, and reveals how the discovery of a key to a gate changes their attitudes. Newman conveys the sensitive nature and loneliness of 12-year-old William—the boy in the mysterious castle—in a soft, tender voice. She fluidly transitions between English and American accents for both child and adult characters. Best of all, her dramatic pacing and whispered warnings bring out the enchanting magic of the castle in the mist. M.F. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2017]