CHARLIE BONE AND THE TIME TWISTER

A young adolescent discovers he has supernatural powers and is sent off to a school for special youngsters, where he makes friends and enemies and finds himself in fantastic adventures. If this sounds like a cheap Harry Potter knock-off, don't be fooled. Jenny Nimmo, author of dozens of children's fantasies, has a brilliant sense of storytelling and a well-tuned ear for good writing. Shakespearean actor Simon Russell Beale adds wonder to this book with his rich baritone reading. At times, particularly when depicting evil characters, Beale descends into a gravelly bass, which can be off-putting, especially with teenaged characters. In this, the second of Nimmo's Charlie Bone novels, a boy who mysteriously disappeared in 1916 suddenly appears at modern-day Bloor's Academy without having aged a day. Charlie must find a way to protect his 11-year-old ancestor from wicked relations. S.E.S. 2004 ALA Notable Recording (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 04]