SOUL STEALERS

Middle school kids will enjoy the sequel to DR. ILLUMINATUS, the story of Pip and Tim and their 600-year-old friend, Sebastian. This time the trio faces evil in the guise of Yoland, the diabolical magician who was part of the plot that killed Sebastian's father. Now Yoland is planning to steal thousands of souls using a thermonuclear delivery system. Narrator Steven Crossley enters into the spirit of things, bringing completely individual voices to all the principals. His teenagers sound youthful, without becoming saccharine, while his menacing characters are seriously scary. Booth injects history and vocabulary lessons here and there, but this is mostly an action-packed adventure, nicely read by Crossley. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/ MAY 06]