WHISPERING TO WITCHES

An encounter with a coven of witches and a conspiracy surrounding an infamous spell are the last things Joe imagines will fill his days and nights during a Christmas visit to his mother and her new family in Canterbury. But mysterious and dangerous adventures are in store for him almost from the moment he boards the train in London. Another in a long line of Harry Potter pretenders, this lightweight fantasy is rescued by superb vocal acrobatics from reader John Curless. His impeccable pacing manages to salvage some awkward transitions in the text, and his remarkable ability to give each character a distinct voice brings even the flattest of them to life. Young listeners who are waiting for year six at Hogwarts will enjoy this, thanks primarily to the talented narrator. S.G. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 04/ JAN 05]