NEVERSINK

The inhabitants of Neversink find themselves in an epic struggle against their oppressors, the owls. Narrator Emrhys Cooper voices Lockley, a courageous puffin who is a modest hero, with a soft, open voice. Lockley’s well-meaning, if pompous, best friend and literati, Egbert, speaks in a low tone that is quite appropriate for a walrus. Cooper manages a wide range of pitches, including a high one for a high-strung hummingbird, without stretching the listener’s ear too far. His measured pace is a pleasure to listen to, as are the variety of English accents that reflect the social standing of the characters, who range from weasels to the ruling owls. Cooper’s narration is at once relaxed and suspenseful as Lockley and the exiled Egbert end up on a journey to rescue the home they love. A.M.P. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2012]