Krystal

Not as interesting as the first book.

Revisado: 02-19-25

The book was slow and boring. It didn’t get interesting until the last few chapters.

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I liked the idea of a new story of sleepy hollow.

Revisado: 11-05-24

I did not like the main character, I don’t like stories about helpless women needing a man to save her.

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Funny

Revisado: 02-15-24

This is a book I overlooked when browsing through the library as a teen, but I’m glad I gave it a chance now. I really enjoyed listening to it, I was literally laughing out loud during much of the books ending. The play was a hilarious montage of disasters. I know it’s a fictional story, but it’s admirable that they didn’t give up and saw the play through. I know I wouldn’t have at that age.

I’d recommend it for at least eighth graders, but possibly even older, because even though it’s about middle schoolers, I feel like I personally wouldn’t have found it as humorous then as I do now.

The narrator also did a good job. No weird voices for the girls, which I always appreciate.

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Historical fantasy adventure for children

Revisado: 01-09-24

In summary:
A fun book for anyone, but I especially recommend for older children/younger teens. And people who like cats. The narration’s fine. I don’t remember anything problematic for people who may be worried about content.

I read this, and many of Lloyd Alexander’s other books when I was younger, around mid to late teens, so I’ve always been a bit older than the likely recommended reading age, but I enjoyed it both then and now that I’m older.

It is a fun little fantasy/adventure story with slight coming of age bits added in, but I think even someone who doesn’t have nostalgia clouding their views would enjoy this. I hadn’t actually remembered much of it other than the basic premise and that I enjoyed it, so as I listened to the book, it was almost like reading it for the first time.

I liked the bits of actual historical people and events included, though as I haven’t studied history much, I probably missed some references. I liked that the characters mention that though they seem to be influencing circumstances, chances are things would have ended that way even without them. I like that there doesn’t seem to be any worry about messing up the timeline even though it’s a time travel book. Concerns like that can be interesting in more extensive books, but for a children’s book, I think this is better. It’s actually kind of touristy and more about learning how other people lived. I call it a fantasy adventure, but other than the time travel and convenient related magic that lets them fit in, it’s a much more realistic in that there is no ultimate goal or anything like that, basically just a boy and his cat going on a world tour. Though it doesn’t constantly focus on it, I really like the relationship between the cat and boy as well. Mostly friends with just a bit of mentorship, as Gareth is an adult cat, with all the confidence that implies. Events were concluded nicely with only slight confusion as to whether the adventure was a dream.

They only spend short, to us, amounts of time in each time periods, but it’s possible that parents/teachers could use these chapters as a starting point to research or encourage interest in those times and places. Personally I liked that each adventure had its focus more or less on how people reacted/related to cats.

As this wasn’t a favorite book I reread often, I didn’t have any high expectations for the narration. Just hopes that they wouldn’t read the children and female voices in an odd whiny pitch, which he didn’t. For whatever reason, his voice did take a little getting used to, but I grew to quite like it, and would listen to another book narrated by him if I came across one.

Gareth was one of the voices that took a bit to adjust to, but I eventually decided he sounded somewhat lazy and proud, maybe a bit condescending, so fitting for a cat. I have trouble remembering names, so I appreciated the different accents and tones of voice, regardless of whether they were correct, they helped me keep track of who was talking and what country they were visiting. And I’m mentioning it again, because it’s a huge negative for me, but I really appreciate that he doesn’t use some weird high pitched voice for the children. I nearly stopped listening to audiobooks with children because of some books like that.

For people who may have concerns (This is only my opinion on as much as I remember… I was distracted occasionally and may have missed something):
I do not remember any instances of cursing. Or name calling. At least on the part of the main characters.
The main character begins the book with being sent to his room as a punishment, but there wasn’t any disrespectful talk against his parents. Or any unreasonable defiance of other authority figures.
I don’t think there was disrespectful characterization of any cultures, but as he is traveling through different places and times, if that is something you’re concerned by, maybe research further before reading/listening. Another reviewer found some of the narrator’s accents to be somewhat offensive, but as someone who doesn’t know much about accents, I was fine with it. I might be misremembering, but think they refer to the Incas as Indians, and possibly other similar instances, but that was period accurate.
There isn’t any major instances of death and violence, but there is talk and threats of it at multiple points in times. It isn’t graphic, but as it is mostly against a little boy and a cat, some people may not be comfortable with having especially sensitive children read/listen. Actually he is running away frightened from battle scenes, several times, but I don’t think the violence is described in detail… it is implied that a man he was traveling with dies, but not outright stated. One of the places they visit is during the European witch trials, and there is mentioned several times the deaths of both cats and people that happened.

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A merry tale

Revisado: 09-01-23

It’s been around twenty years since I’ve read this book, and I found it more lighthearted than I remembered. I’d remembered it being a more fun read than most movie adaptations would lead you to believe, but had forgotten how much Robin and his men truly seemed to enjoy life in Sherwood Forest. It was a very fun book to listen to. Until the end with the death of Robin, I nearly cried.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in hearing more of Robin Hood, in particular I recommend an audiobook for anyone who might find the older more flowery language difficult to read through themselves.
The reader was enjoyable to listen to, he read clearly and uses different tones for different characters, but not so much that it comes out jarring. He also actually sang all the songs, which I appreciated, because some readers don’t even try to read them in a vaguely musical way, and there was quite a bit of singing.
As mentioned before, the conversations of the characters are more poetic and leaning towards older English, though the rest of the narration is easier to understand. There’s some pretty descriptions of scenery that I liked. There is also much talk of love between characters, they say it so often that it seems humorous, but it’s also nice to read/hear of affection between friends spoken of so freely.
There’s nothing vastly offensive that I can remember in this book which would prevent you from reading with children. Some talk of death, though not what I would consider graphic. The language can be confusing, but is mostly understandable. There’s not even any romance for the majority of the characters, including Robin. Though there are mentions of the pretty girls they meet, there’s nothing blatant.
The book is really just about Robin and his men having fun adventures, and I do recommend it for those interested in the genre.

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A Classic

Revisado: 07-31-23

I really enjoyed listening to this book. The narrator was not irritating during the children’s voices, which was very much appreciated. I haven’t read it in many years, so it was nice hearing an unabridged version.
The book itself was very much as I remembered, though Tinker Bell calls Peter a silly ass a few more times than I remembered, and there were also more mentions of death than I recalled. If you’re sensitive to outdated writings of race, there are bits especially in regards to the natives that may offend you, but I don’t think it came up that much.
I really like the story of Peter Pan, as an adult I find myself much more sympathetic to the parents than I did as a child, but I still can’t help feeling a bit sad that I never got an adventure to Neverland. It really is a story to inspire young imaginations, but an enjoyable book for adults to listen to as well.

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A fun mystery for kids

Revisado: 03-21-23

I enjoyed listening as an adult, and I think preteens/younger teens would enjoy the story even more. Anyone familiar with mysteries can probably at least somewhat accurately guess where the story is leading to early on, I could and it isn’t my preferred genre. But I feel that it is written well enough and the narrator engaging enough that I continued listening wanting to know what was going to happen next.

The story ends with some unanswered plot points, but it appears to be the first of a series, so that’s understandable if a bit frustrating.

The book is told through the point of view of a twelve year old, but didn’t come across as excessively annoying, which I appreciated. I did find their abilities to memorize numbers and other things so quickly strange, but that might be because I never could. The narrator’s voice was very believable as a young girls, without being grating on my ears, which was also appreciated, and something most narrators seem to have a problem with.

I wouldn’t really recommend this to those with younger children or those who are easily frightened, there are moments of suspense and a monster’s voice calling out the main character’s name that can be scary. There’s also some mentions of human and animal experimentation. And little to no consequences for the ‘bad guy’.
It is a fun listen and I do recommend it to fans of the genre.

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Cute

Revisado: 03-20-23

My three year old enjoyed listening during car rides and snack time. A fun selection of songs, jokes, stories.

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Peaceful stories

Revisado: 03-10-23

I enjoyed listening to these, the stories are gentle and the narrator’s voice is soothing. I played it in the car for the kids, and it didn’t exactly hold their attention, but when just the youngest was in the car, he seemed to listen.

I think if I’d had the book to follow along with the pictures they may have enjoyed it more. Or if I were to play it at night on a longer car ride, or at bedtime. It would also be nice for playing in the background during quiet playtime.

I have read many of the stories before and watched films of the stories, so maybe I enjoyed it more because I could visualize better the characters, so I definitely recommend this reading to anyone who already likes the stories.

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Fun short story

Revisado: 02-28-23

Some of the voices are strange and a bit difficult to understand, but it was fun listening to. There are some mildly questionable parts, but it seems to be generally safe for all ages. Though I listened to it by myself first, I’ll probably play it for the kids eventually.

The story is very short, not much happened plot wise. Three odd siblings are thought to be orphaned and find love and acceptance with their new adoptive mother… their weirdness is what makes an otherwise forgettable story fun,

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