VOYAGE OF THE SPARROWHAWK

Deryn Oliver beautifully narrates this magical story set in England and France just after WWI. Listeners board the SPARROWHAWK, a longboat, with two very opposite 12-year-olds: hesitant Ben, who is searching for his missing brother, a soldier, and impulsive Lotti, who is wondering why her beloved grandma has stopped writing to her. Oliver deftly recounts the pair's treacherous crossing of the English Channel and horrific descriptions of the war's aftermath. Encounters with good and bad people and colorful descriptions of birds, nautical life, and the birth of puppies take center stage. Most inspiring is Ben's and Lotti's determination to carry on their searches despite the possibility of heartbreak. Impressive English and French accents, and Oliver's singing of a nightingale's song, create an enchanting listening experience. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2022]