THE SILVER ARROW

Acclaimed narrator Simon Vance brings his special blend of magic and cheek to Lev Grossman's middle-grade debut. In a moment of ennui, Kate requests an 11th birthday present from her estranged uncle and, surprisingly, is given a fully functioning life-size steam train. Her younger brother, Thomas, joins her on a fantastic adventure in which they pick up all manner of chatty animal passengers all over the world. Vance's character voices are perfect for the young train conductors, and his choices for the animals are exceptional. They include a burly porcupine, a kindly, wise heron, and many others--all of whom have deft accents that indicate their national habitats. This story of wonder serves up a gently delivered message about conservation and the effect of humans on the animal world. S.T.C. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2020]