Book Description

Read by Jim Dale

Running time:20 hrs., 30 mins. 12cassettes

Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts for his fourth year of magical adventures in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.This year Harry turns 14 and becomes interested in girls -- one in particular.And with Dark Magic comes danger, as someone close to Harry dies.You'll have to listen to learn more!The audio is available on July 8th. ... Read more

Reviews (4706)

Darkness Reborn.
HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE is the fourth installment of the Harry Potter series and (so far) is also the longest and most dark. I had enjoyed the previous three books immensely, but had heard so many conflicting reviews about GOBLET OF FIRE, that I didn't know what to expect. After finally finishing the novel, I found that it was a most intriguing read and has become my favorite in the series so far.

The book begins during the summer before the fall term starts at Hogwarts. Harry joins the Weasley family and Hermione for a trip to the World Quiddich Cup. The tournament is marked by strange events which foreshadow the dark horrors and adventures that lie waiting for Harry and friends back at school.

The book builds from the opening, sinister and puzzling chapter to it's conclusion (over 700 pages later) when a line in the sand is drawn and the forces of good unite to stand against the resurrected Lord Voldemort. Whereas the previous three novels seemed self-contained and concluded in themselves, GOBLET OF FIRE ends on a cliffhanger, merely hinting at the huge struggle facing the forces of good. I have a feeling things are only going to become more dark and depressing for Harry and the gang.

Not just for kids!
Ages 9-12 shouldn't get to have all the fun! "The Goblet of Fire" is a terrific story for anyone who has ever wanted to fly or gazed longingly at a poster of a favorite athlete, wishing that athlete could come to life. JK Rowling makes it happen and if your imagination hasn't been too stifled and trodden down by the concerns of everyday life, then this book might be for you, no matter what your age. "The Goblet of Fire" is exciting, funny, frightening and impossible to put down. I kept telling myself "just one more chapter" until I had finished the final 450 pages in one fell swoop! The hype and hyperbole proved to be fully justified and Ms Rowling has shown herself to be a wonderfully creative and insightful writer. As a junior high and high school English teacher, one of my main frustrations is the fact that my students don't want to read for pleasure, even when given time to do so in class. However, the Harry Potter series has renewed the hope with which I began my career 15 years ago, that books and good, old-fashioned story-telling and imagination weren't yet out of style. Thanks, Ms Rowling, for Harry Potter, Hermione, Ron and the rest of the Hogwarts gang, yes, even Draco Malfoy, the kid we all love to hate! And thanks, too, for bringing back my own junior high memories after all these years with your refreshingly honest and accurate portrayals of young boys and girls discovering new experiences and getting to know each other again for the first time.

Awesome!
I definitely think JK Rowling has honed her craft. I did not like the original Potter book, because I thought there wasn't much depth to the characters and everthing was predictable. As of the Prisoner book, I think she has definitely improved. I liked this so much I could barely put it down.

The thing that separates this book out from her first two novels is that as the characters age, the plots have become much darker and much less predictable, and this one, in particular, reads almost like a mystery novel, because there is so much left up in the air.

The ending also sets the stage for future novels.

I think kids and adults (myself included) will find this to be the best Potter book yet (I have not yet read the Order of the Phoenix)

Pushing it to the next level
I'm a thirty-something woman and I am a Harry-a-holic. Why should this fantastic series be just for kids? Obviously I'm not the only person who feels this way. I see adults riveted by this series everywhere I go. And the best thing is kids love it too! This series opens the door that many of us need, something in common with our children. It really helps us to identify with each other. Thank you J.K. Rowling!

"Goblet of Fire" shows us that it is not written reverently for the little ones, however. I must warn you, there is a tragic death. I'm sure most children can deal with it, but I personally was shocked. I'm not sure I'm old enough for where this series is going, but I'll let it take me there just the same.

By opening that doorway to the sad inevitability we all face, Rowling has pushed the boundaries of how we view children's adventures. We realize now that Voldemort means business and that anything could happen as he continues his quest for power. Can Harry stop him? Voldemort continues to get more powerful with every novel and Harry is only just able to stop his nemesis from succeeding with his ingenious plots to take over all the witching world and quite possible the muggle world as well.

This book left me waiting almost too eagerly for "Order of the Phoenix," which I read with my 9-year-old niece who seems to cope with the terrors in this series better than I am.

If you're all growed up, read this with some kids, they can comfort you when it gets scary.

Real Emotion
The Goblet of Fire is the first time that Harry really deals with hard problems, and dark emotions. This is also the first time the book every brought out real emotion, such as sadness. J.K. Rowling really knows how to make each book better and better. Although this isn't my favorite of the serious, it's a very close second. There were many times in which I just bursted out into laughter, and others when i cried. Every emotion is provoked in this book. I really recommend that every one read Harry Potter, even if it to read this one book in the series. ... Read more

Book Description

read by Judi Dench, Stephen Fry, et al One cassette Runningtime: 1 hour ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Say "Ho" for the wonderful Pooh!
This amazing dramatization of the Pooh books is performed by a marvelously talented group of British entertainers who truly bring the Pooh characters gently and lovingly to life. As for this tape, I finally got this figured out. This is part of a four-tape program that represents the complete two-book Winnie-the-Pooh story collection, except the stories are out of order (probably so that they would fit equally on the tapes). Book 1, "Winnie-the-Pooh," is represented by "Pooh Goes Visiting" (stories in order: 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10) and "Piglet Meets a Heffalump" (stories: 5, 6, 7, 8). Book 2, "The House at Pooh Corner," is dramatized by "Tigger Comes to the Forest" (stories in order: 1 2, 4, 3, 9, 10) and "Pooh Invents a New Game" (stories 5, 6, 7, 8). When stories that depend on previous information are out of order, it gets confusing. My suggestion: Get the "Winnnie-the-Pooh" / "The House at Pooh Corner" gift pack, which is also four tapes (the same recordings), but in the proper order.

Best Version of Pooh Available
If you have a small child, there simply isn't a better way for them to enjoy the magic of these stories as they were meant to be heard. The truncated, illustration-heavy Disney books, which seem to be everywhere, simply don't tell the stories.

Other notable versions, such as Lionel Jeffries's excellent reading, are no longer available, and Charles Kuralt's, while clearly in the right spirit, can be a little dull for smaller kids.

Sephen Fry is wonderful, and Jane Horrocks's piglet is a delight. Judy Dench and Geoffrey Palmer also bring excellent characterizations to the stories. My 2 year old and I love this version, and it makes her want me to read the book to her. There is no higher recommendation than that from a child!

A whole new Pooh.
This tape represents a whole new Pooh. The readers create an elegant experience that is gentle and at the same time fun and adventurous. My favorite Pooh reader was always Lionel Jeffries, but as those tapes seem to have disappeared from the face of the earth, the Stephen Fry series may become my new favorite. The talented people involved in this production make it a true classic. I have listened to this over and over, and it doesn't lose its freshness. Take it along on your next car trip with the kids! (or without them!)

Edward Bear as he was meant to be heard!
Dame Judi Dench and her husband Michael Williams warmly and with great humor narrate several Pooh stories, with the hilarious Stephen Fry as Pooh, and their daughter Finty making a squeaky cameo appearance as Roo. Geoffrey Palmer has found his niche forever, as far as I'm concerned, as Eeyore. A more forlorn and world-weary Eeyore has never and will never exist! Add to this a delightful piano accompaniment underlying the "hums" and you've got the best Pooh tape ever. When will there be more? ... Read more

Book Description

When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter.But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power.With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds. Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders?The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands….


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Reviews (860)

A (Self-consciously) Precocious Debut
This book was disappointing. As stated in other reviews, it was derivative and cliché. It had all of the same elements as every other bland fantasy book, along with the extra baggage of a teen-aged writer trying to flex underdeveloped vocabulary muscle--one gets the feeling that Paolini wrote the book with his high school vocabulary lists on one side, a dictionary on the other, and classic fantasy books in his lap. The dialogue was stilted and unnatural, and the reader finds it hard to care about any of the characters because they're not well developed. One of the review blurbs on the dustjacket's back calls Eragon a "precocious debut." I think that's true; but Paolini's quite aware that he's out of his league, and tries to compensate for his uninspired vision by using big words as well as stereotypic characters and generic action sequences. Unless Fox makes some drastic changes in dialogue and character development in its upcoming film adaptation, the movie will flop due to poor critical reviews and snickering, exhasperated audiences. Hopefully the rest of the planned trilogy will improve the story and make "Inheritance" worth the readers' time and money.

Eragon
<br /> Eragon is a wonderful book about a boy named Eragon who discovers a dragon egg, and soon finds himself in a world of magic, wars, and adventure. He travels with his dragon to safety, while seeking revenge on the evil king, Galbatorix, for killing his uncle. With elves, dwarves, and warriors, Eragon and his friends help defeat the orcs sent by Galbatorix. <br /> I highly recommend this book to anyone ages 9 and up.

An enchanting and heroic battle between two forces
This is one of the greatest books of all time. One might call it good against evil, but the good aren't that heroic. It is a coming of age story where the main character struggles with himself and his own feelings as well as his enemies. A great epic novel much like The Lord Of The Rings, except it is not as hard to follow.

It doesn't matter if you like fantasy or not. Eragon RULES!!
The suspencful and thrilling story of Saphira and Eragon is amazing, detailed, beautiful, and everything else. It was so(...)etc. GREAT and possibly the best book I have ever read!!! Why? I can't name them all but I can name a few. 1. It talks about dragon in a positive way and I love dragons alot. I'm obssessed. 2. The style of writing is great. 3. The descriptions are amazing. 3.PLEASE do yourself a favor and read this book! I can't wait for Eldest to hit the stores!!!!!!!!!!!!

TOTALLY 100% FANTASTICLY AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This book is definantly the best I've read since Lord of the Rings! It's totally full of action with just a hint of some romance, but it definantly does not overdo it so you will not get bored. It's filled with everything a good story needs, dragons, elves, dwarves, a little bit of magic, a totally evil villian, and a hero you will just fall in love with. You would never be able to tell that he was only 15 when he started to write it. Whoever reads it will not be able to put it down, and those who haven't, YOU HAVE TO GET IT. Can't wait for the other two books in the series. They ROCK! ... Read more

Book Description

If you're an Odyssey veteran, then sit back and relive a bit of history.If you've only recently started listening to the series, these early shows will be a real treat.This collector's album includes: Whit's Flop, Life of the Party, Connie Comes to Town, Recollections, Gifts for Madge and Guy, The Day After Christmas and many others.

Reviews (2)

A great collection of family-friendly shows for everyone
This is where it all began. The first 12 episodes of Focus on the Family's Adventures in Odyssey series, which is still going strong today. Featuring the voice of Hal Smith (best known as Otis Campbell from the Andy Griffith shows) as Mr. Whittaker, the show can entertain adults and kids alike, using the theater of the mind rather than of the eye.

The shows also teach encouraging morals, such as contentedness, and self-esteem (among others) from a Christian perspective. You should check these out, and give the other titles a chance as well!

Great!
These tapes are terrific! If you have kids, they are fantastic to play in the car on a long trip. The kids love them and so do Mom and Dad. It keeps everyone from fussing and fighting and they will listen to them over and over. They never get tired of them ... Read more

Book Description

Read by the author
2 hrs. 35 mins.
2 cassettes

Jack and Annie are back with four more adventures in one audiobook collection.

This time, Jack and Annie must race against time to find an ancient library before it's buried in ash, take on a book burning emperor, escape a Viking invasion, and witness the first Olympics in ancient Greece.

Volume 4 includes:
Magic Tree House #13: Vacation Under the Volcano
Magic Tree House #14: Day of the Dragon
Magic Tree House #15: Viking Ships at Sunrise
Magic Tree House #16: Hour of the Olympics ... Read more

Book Description

Read by the author
2 hrs. 49 mins.
2 cassettes

Jack and Annie return to audio with four more time travel adventures.
Jack and Annie are whisked back in time as they try to save the ill-fated Titanic, learn to hunt buffalo on the Great Plains, save a rare tiger from poachers in India, and help a baby kangaroo and a koala escape from a fire-filled forest in Australia.

Volume 5 includes:
Tonight on the Titanic #17
Buffalo Before Breakfast #18
Tigers at Twilight #19
Dingoes at Dinnertime #20 ... Read more

Reviews (4)

My Review of Ghost Town at Sundown
Since I like scary stories, I really, really liked this one. The best part was when they heard a ghost playing the piano. The ghost's name is Lonesome Luke.

Fins Up for Dolphins at Daybreak
My name is Grant. I am in third grade. Last week I read DOLPHINS AT DAYBREAK because it looked like a really exciting book. DOLPHINS is my favorite Magic Treehouse book so far. I have already read VIKING SHIPS AT SUNRISE and CIVIL WAR ON SUNDAY. I would give all of the Magic Treehouse books I have read 5 stars, but I like DOLPHINS best because I love dolphins and the submarine adventure was really exciting!!!

Here's a bit of what happened: Annie was curious about the mini-submarine and talked Jack into exploring it. Inside the sub Annie pushed the wrong button and it started to go down to the bottom of the sea. They saw an Octopus, which started to grab the submarine...they also saw a hammerhead shark...

That's all I will tell you or it will spoil the story for you.

Night of the Ninjas
Night of the Ninjas is easy to read with short chapters and pictures. This book can hold the interest of children from 8 on up. The characters are fun and children can relate to them. The characters are a brother and sister, so this book will be of interest to either boys or girls. I have found that the Magic Tree House Books make children want to learn more about history.

Wonderful Adventure for Kids in early Elementary years
My children loved all 3 of these adventures, which we listened to in the car on a trip via the audiotape version. They laughed at the adventures of the kids, learning as we went about Pirates, Dinosaurs, and Knights. These are written with "old style" magic -- no darkness or evil overtones -- and my kids responded to it beautifully, requesting additional versions for later trips. My husband and I didn't suffer much either. I strongly recommend this collection for those who have early elementary kids (mine are 6 and 8 years old), whom they don't think are ready for Harry Potter and some of that ilk. ... Read more

Book Description

This resource is directly related to its literature equivalent and filled with a variety of cross-curricular lessons to do before, during, and after reading the book. This reproducible book includes sample plans, author information, vocabulary building ideas, cross-curriculum activities, sectional activities and quizzes, unit tests, and ideas for culminating and extending the novel. ... Read more

Reviews (338)

Pretty good but a little old fashioned and slow
I am an Elementary education major and had to view the video and compare it to the book for a lesson plan. I thought it accurately depicted a lot of things but was incorrect in a lot of other ways. It did bring the characters to life but left out some key scenes. Rontu in the movie was not one of the wild dogs from the island but was left by the Aleuts whereas in the book he was described as one of the wild dogs. Other than that I found it a bit slow and old fashioned. Overall I thought it was good and would use it with a class to view critically and to compare to the book.

Island of the Blue Dolphin
You Know what a good book is? Island of the Blue Dolphins. Scott O'Dell does a wonderful job telling this girls story of survival, physically and emotionally. This young girl's tribe is forced to leave their island after the Alutes came and killed most of the men in their tribe. The day they are set to leave, this girls little brother is not on the boat and the boat is already pulling away from the cove. So she jumps off and swims to the island to stay with her brother. Soon after she is abandoned, her brother is killed by a pack of wild dogs. Now she is all alone on the Island of the Blue Dolphins.
Scott O'Dell does a wonderful job with this book. This young girl is truly pushed to the limits. Seeing as she is living on her own for years. Her character is such an inspiration. She over came many obstacles to survive. She definitely faces conflict when her brother dies. This was probably her biggest obstacle.
I personally enjoyed this book. I found it truly inspiring. I have never read any of Scott O'Dell's books before. I believe that his other books will be just as good as this one. This story has such a good story line to it. It kind of reminded me of Cast Away. The main characters both had to survive by them self's for a while before getting rescued.

Goes beyond the typical survival book
"Island of The Blue Dolphins" is a classic in every sense in my opinion. After most of her people are killed by some Russians called the Aleuts, Karana has to live on The Island of The Blue Dolphins. While there, she has to learn how to survive alone by making shelter, her own food, etc. She also has to find a way to fend herself of the wild dogs should they turn to attack her, while also watching the seas to make sure the Aleuts don't come back. Will she be on the island alone forever? Will she be rescued by a ship? Karana has to find a way to survive long enough to find out.

"Island of The Blue Dolphins" is one of the best books I've ever read. Unlike many stories of survival, the author, Scott O'Dell doesn't ever sympathize much with what Karana has been through. In the end, it makes the book even better that he didn't reflect too much on Karana's losses. Once you get to a certain point in the story, it will grip you into reading it and not let go until the book is over. There's a lot of things about the book that you probably won't ever forget once you read it. It's pretty much a great and unforgettable book about survival and it couldn't have been written any better if you ask me.

I recommend anybody who likes great books that are about survival to get "Island of The Blue Dolphins." It's so good that it goes beyond the typical survival book, and you'll know what I mean when you finish reading it. It has elements of many other kinds of stories, and it's very compelling. It's a 5 star book without a doubt.

Pretty Darn Dull!
My daughter had to read this book this year in the 4th grade. She was so bored by it, that I had to read it aloud to her so that she could pass the weekly chapter quizes. About the only interesting or exciting events were Karana's experiences with the wild dogs. Her trip away from the island in the canoe went on for about 10 pages, and all it was about was the canoe leaking. If these are the types of books that are supposed to motivate kids to become interested in reading, I'm afraid we are going to alot of non-reading adults. UGH!

Not Quite Perfect
I read Island of the Blue Dolphins for a required reading book. The book is really good and exciting most of the time, but the end is really bad. It literally ends right in the middle of the book. Nothing is explained and it really doesn't make sense. That is why I give this book 3 stars. ... Read more

Book Description

With a bit of last summer’s sand in the pockets, the Traveling Pants and the Sisterhood that wears them embark on their 16th summer.
Bridget: Impulsively sets off for Alabama, wanting to both confront her demons about her family and avoid them all at once.
Lena: Spends a blissful week with Kostos, making the unexplainable silence that follows his visit even more painful.
Carmen: Is concerned that her mother is making a fool of herself over a man. When she discovers that her mother borrowed the Pants to wear on a date, she’s certain of it.
Tibby: Not about to spend another summer working at Wallman’s, she takes a film course only to find it’s what happens off-camera that teaches her the most.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Reviews (168)

the second summer is just as engrossing as the first
With The Second Summer of the Sisterhood, I was delighted to find that entering the world of the four teenage girls of Besthesda, Maryland was just as wonderful the second time as the first. While it starts a bit slow, the plot definitely picks up and gathers momentum as it goes.
All four deal with family issues and pain in this book. The memory of Bailey, Tibby's young friend who was claimed by leukemia in the first book, is painfully present in Tibby's mind as she struggles with her mother, who appears to be absorbed in the world of her two little siblings.
Lena uncovers an unpleasant, hidden secret from her mother's past, and has a passionate- yet tragically short lived- reunion with Kostos, her handsome Greek boyfriend.
Bridget is hardly recognizable in this second summer. After the disastrous event that happened to her in the first book, she quit soccer and dyed her hair brown. To recover her own identity, as well as to reunite with her mother's family, she sets of for Alabama on a life-changing mission.
The only character I was disappointed in was Carmen. Apparently having learned nothing from her mistakes last summer, she nearly ruins her mother's romantic life. However, I think she- like the others- is even more believable and endearing than before! I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

Can't Wait For Summer?
Ann Brashares became one of my favorite authors after reading the first book, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. I felt that there was someone that wrote down on paper the feelings and emotions that me and my friends go through each day. So, when I found out the the second book was out, I rushed to my nearest bookstore and bought it right away. I finished it the first day I got it and felt so emotional after reading it. Because I read the first book, I could tell that Ann Brashares likes to throw curves in her stories, where the unexpected always happened. I liked that too, it keeps we wanting to move on, to read more, to not put the book down! And that is EXACTLY what you get when you read the Second Summer of the Sisterhood, when I found myself becoming as emotional as Tibby, Lena, Carmen, and Bee themselves! What makes the book all the more better is that it can appeal to anyone, teen or adult because it deals with situstions that are real. I believe it is all the more enjoyable as well because even how it is written, its in the same way that I talk to my friends so I feel more into it as it is hard for me to enjoy a book the way I do this one! Therefore, I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking forward to summer coming up and waiting for new adventures of their own!

Summertime Is Still Sweet....
I'm a big reader of books of all kinds - teen fare that I can get away with reading, the oh so popular chick lit (a la Bridget Jones Diary), and of course classics and top sellers. So I've got a lot to compare Ann Brashares 2nd offering to - and overall I'd give it a 3.5 stars rather then 4 or 3.

The story itself picks up 10 months after the last one began - summer break yet again with the girls beginning their yearly tradition of breaking into the gym where their mothers had exercise class together and thus brought the four main characters together -

Lena - gorgeous but shy and serious, deals with lessons in love and heartbreak via Kostos (her Greek grandparents family friends son) in this novel...my only problem is that she doesn't really seem to change her attitude much from the last book until the very end, and even then she seems unaware that she is growing up.

Carmen - Rehashes the storyline of the last book in this one with a few plot points changed - basically plays a bratty daughter yet again. Carmen is probably my least fave character in terms of development both plot and characterwise - she never seems to learn anything (which perhaps is a character trait).

Tibby - Seems to have a much smaller role in this book, particularly towards the end, doens't really grow much but revisits the previous summer in an interesting way.

Bee - My fave character and in my opinion has the strongest and most interesting storyline - where she impulsively takes off to Alabama to visit her long lost grandmother and to discover more about her bi-polar mother who killed herself many years ago. Its interesting because Bee appears to be the only one who changed OVER the course of the year, and thus you get to watch her become something from those changes instead of just re-visiting last summers experiences and lessons.

All in all I enjoyed Brashares writing, I love the quotes she uses, and she makes you feel for each of the characters. The only thing I have to criticize her on is the lack of major growth the girls should have experienced during the school year, as the mistakes they made in this book were far too similar to the previous years. Personally the summer before grade 10 and the summer before grade 11 (or grade 11 and grade 12) were completely different times for me, and I think the girls really should've learnt something more then quadratic functions over the year. Another small criticism is that the girls are almost too functioned on their said plot points...Brashares could've created a more 3-dimensional world but granted a book can only show you so much. Finally I think she makes the girls a bit over-emotional at times to the point where it becomes unbelievable. However if you are into the ever popular continuity-necessary teen novel that dominates the market today, then pick this (and the first) book up for some fun summer reads.

The Second Summer of the Sisterhood
I read the first book in the series and loved it, so of course I had to read the second one. The reason why I only gave this book four stars is because, there were questions unanswered and when I finished the book I didn't know that there was gonna be a sequel. My guess is that all of my questions will be anwered then. Like the first book it;s about four friends, Lena, Tibby, Carmen, and Bridget. But in this book it goes into more depth with the relationship of Lena and Kostos. Bridget also meets a guy a soccer camp. What I guess I didn't like was that Bailey wasn't in this book. She was one of my favorite characters in the book besides the four main characters. I can't wait 'till the third sisterhood book comes out, Girs In Pants, but I guess I have to because it doesn't come out 'till january, 25, 2005. Well I hope this review was helpful. Oh, and sorry about all of the grammer mistakes that I made, i'm not very good at grammer.

The Girls Are Back - I read for 8 hours straight!
I absolutly loved this book, and for that note the one before it also. I don't say that about many books! It was truly touching - I cried for Lena twice!

The girls - Lena, Tibby, Carmen, and Bee - Are off again on another exciting story! I was touched by all of them equally (except for Tibby, who didn't have THAT much substance in the book but it was still good! I loved that they brought Bailey's spirit back into the book! I also am glad Kostos came back, even if.... em I didn't like the end... But it was very good and I enjoyed it!!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Here's an Adventures in Odyssey Classics Album chock-full of American History!From Christopher Columbus's grand voyage, throught the colonists' struggle for independence from England, to the writing of The Star-Spangled Banner, as well as the Underground Railroad, Abraham Lincoln, the attack on Pearl Harbor and stories from World War II, this collection has something for everyone.

Book Description

In Hot Pursuit, Volume 41 in the Adventures in Odyssey audio series, can now be heard on CD and repackaged cassette!In the latest Adventures in Odyssey collection, Connie, Whit, Joanne, and the whole Odyssey crew is back for exciting, cross-country adventures! Favorite Odyssey characters visit Washington, D.C., West Virginia, and even foreign lands where they face challenging situations dealing with friendship, teamwork, judging others, forgiveness, and more. In the end, they walk away with valuable lessons that will last for a lifetime.

Volume 41 includes many entertaining episodes, including:

• “Hindsight”
• “The Taming of the Two”
• “Black Clouds”
• “Silver Lining”
• “Teacher’s Pest”
• “Pink Is Not My Color”
• “Something Blue, Parts 1 & 2”
• And many more!

Book Description

When Whit returns from a lengthy stay in the Middle East, the entire town of Odyssey turns out for a joyous homecoming celebration complete with fanfare and fireworksBut for Jack, Whit's arrival means an uneasy reunion - and a tough decision about the future.Then, the phrase "fools rush in" takes on new significance for Eugene when he neglects to seek God's direction in his relationship with Katrina.

Meanwhile, it looks like the mission board isn't quitefinished with Whit, and an offer for continued foreign ministry is on the table.Will he choose to stay on at Whit's End, or will following God's plan require another long absence for him?

Reviews (1)

It's really good, awesome, spectacular.
If you've listen to to Adventures in Odyssey as long as I have, you'll LOVE this audio cassette. A special person (don't want to let you know who it is. It would spoil the surprise.) left Odyssey a few years ago and has FINALLY returned. Connie Kendall wanted to make this a SPECIAL day for this special person and instead of being at the airport, the ceremonies, ect. when this person arrived, she was just late for all of these things. She finnally tracked the special person down and he was asleep, do to exaustion, she was so sad, frustrated, mad, you get the point. She was cring, and she woke up the special person, she was so glad to hug the special person. If you want more information on Adventures in Odyssey, e-mail me at AWANABoy@aol.com Thanks! ... Read more

Book Description

Read by the author
approx. 2 hours, 30 minutes
2 cassettes

In this sixth volume of the best-selling audio series, Jack and Annie are whisked back in time to the Civil War where they meet a famous nurse named Clara Barton; join General George Washington during the Revolutionary War as his army leads a sneak attack against their enemy; attend school in a one-room school house in the 1870s; and experience the famous San Francisco earthquake of 1906.

Volume 6 includes:
Magic Tree House #21: Civil War on Sunday
Magic Tree House #22: Revolutionary War on Wednesday
Magic Tree House #23: Twister on Tuesday
Magic Tree House #24: Earthquake in the Early Morning ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A pleased parent
I cannot believe how my son is reading! I bought him the first 8 books for Christmas and by New Years he had read all but one - on his own! He'd rather books than movies!

Afternoon on the Amazon - book #6
Meet Jack and Annie. Jack is an eight year old boy who seeks adventure. In every trip, Jack takes notes to learn more interesting facts. He carries his little backpack almost everywhere with his useful supplies inside. Annie is Jack's little sister. Annie is just one year younger than Jack. These two siblings have great times together in many different places. Annie is a sweet, honest, considerate girl who looks up to Jack.

Jack and Annie go lots of places, in lots of different times, helping others in their time, in the present and in the past. For example, in another book, in the same series (Magic Tree House Series) I read a book about Jack and Annie with George Washington! That was a long time ago!

Afternoon on the Amazon is an exciting book about Jack and Annie who try to help Morgan le Fay by finding four special things. (Everything they find starts with "M".) In the tree house, every time, they climb up the ladder, look for their trusty friend, Peanut the mouse, and point to a picture in a book while wishing to go there. The tree house starts to spin, spin, and spin faster until they appear in a tree in the place they wish to go. In the rain forest, Jack and Annie have trouble with the following animals: a mother cheetah, a crocodile, a monkey, an army of ants, piranhas and a snake. But in the end, Jack and Annie find out that the animals were just being themselves, with the monkey just trying to be helpful.

My favorite part of the book is when Jack is trying to stop their boat, and he accidentally snatched a snake. It really shakes up the story. Jack and Annie try to push the boat fast and duck their heads. They safely escaped, scared to death!

This is a very exciting book. In every book (from the Magic Tree House series) behind the cover, it says good things about the author and her books. By reading her books you can see if you think these words are right. I personally think this book matches what the people say. I recommend Mary Pope Osborne's books to everyone! ... Read more

Book Description

Read by Lana Quintal
Approx. 2.5 hours
2 cassettes

Available now for the first time on audio&mdash;four Junie B. Jones stories in one collection brings four times the laughs!

Includes:
#13 Junie B. Jones is (almost) a Flower Girl
Junie B. is tired of everyone treating her like a baby.Too bad she wasn't picked to be flower girl at her aunt Flo's wedding.Then she could really show everyone how grown-up she is. But surely she can still find some way to get everyone's attention!

#14 Junie B. Jones and the Mushy Gushy Valentine
Junie B. gets a big, mushy Valentine's Day card from a secret admirer! Who is this secret mystery guy, anyway? Junie B. is determined to find out!

#15 Junie B. Jones Has a Peep in Her Pocket
When Junie B.'s homeroom takes an end of year field trip to a farm, everyone is excited&mdash;except Junie B. Jones.Farms have scary ponies and scary roosters. Will there be anything good about this place or will this be the "worstest " field trip ever?


#16 Junie B. Jones is Captain Field Day
Afternoon kindergarten is having a field day, and Junie B. Jones is team captain!As Captain Field Day, it's up to Junie B. to stop room eight from winning the championship.Will Junie B. find a way to lead her team to victory?Or will someone else save the day?




... Read more

Reviews (4)

So much fun in a book!
Junie B. Jones books are so funny! Barbara Park has a real talent in being able to write as if she is really a little girl... Some parents might complain about Junie B.'s "bad grammar", but the fact is that she is only a kid trying to immitate the way adults act and speak around her. Read them and laugh out loud, they're so good---for kids and for adults with a sense of humour!

Will Keep Kids Happy in the Car for Hours!
These books are terrific for kids in a wide range of ages--mine are 3, 5, and 8, and they all love them (they are over the head of the 3-year-old, but he's still mesmerized). Amazingly, the audiobooks are even better than the print versions. Lana Quintal, whose child-like voice seems a little grating at first, stands up incredibly well to repeat (and repeat and repeat) listening. She gets the tone just right. My kids are happy listening to these tapes in the car even on those long journeys that are usually occasion for hours of complaining. Worth gold! Check out the collection of books 9-12 too; if anything, it's even better than this one.

My Daughter Loves Junie B!
My daughter, just entering kindergarten this year, adores the Junie B. Jones books! While I admit, that I'm not overly fond of the grammatical mistakes (I tend to edit while reading aloud), the books are great fun for adults as well as kids. These books have helped my daughter deal with everything from a new sibling, to the start of kindergarten. I recommend them highly.

Who is it?
Who is it??

Junie B. Jones got a mushy gushy valentine from a secret admirer!! Who is this secret admirer?? She went outside but she forgot her valentine . She came inside. She saw Jim taking it. She said, "HEY WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!!" Did Jim give Junie B. the card?? ... Read more

Book Description

Surprises, discoveries and laughs, about in Odyssey.Come join each exciting, action-packed adventure!

When bad Isn't So Good - Sam gets into more trouble than he bargained for when he sets out to prove that "nice guys finish last."

Making the Grade - Jimmy has an eye-opening experience when he realizes that all that "worthless stuff" he learned in school is actually worth a lot.

Fences - The Barclay family has been through many changes lately, and Donna tries to copy by adopting an unwanted dog.

War of the Words - A carelessly uttered word in the middle of an argument between Connie and Eugene wreaks havoc when it becomes the fashionable insult.

Book Description

Dear Reader,

If you have not read anything about the Baudelaire orphans, then before you read even one more sentence, you should know this: Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are kindhearted and quick-witted, but their lives, I am sorry to say, are filled with bad luck and misery. All of the stories about these three children are unhappy and wretched, and the one you are holding may be the worst of them all.

If you haven't got the stomach for a story that includes a hurricane, a signaling device, hungry leeches, cold cucumber soup, a horrible villain, and a doll named Pretty Penny, then this book will probably fill you with despair.

I will continue to record these tragic tales, for that is what I do. You, however, should decide for yourself whether you can possibly endure this miserable story.

With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

Reviews (126)

Got a whale of a tale to tell ya lads
Guardians of the unfortunate Baudelaire orphans can be easily separated into three categories. They are malicious (Count Olaf), benign (Uncle Monty), or useless (Aunt Josephine). In this particular book we meet the ineffectual Aunt Josephine, the third of the Baudelaire's guardians and, perhaps, the most useless of them all. I mean, certainly it is unfortunate that Count Olaf was their first, and continually follows them from home to home, always wearing disguises. But he was not useless. In fact, he moves the plots along quite nicely.

In "The Wide Window", the unfortunate three have landed on the shores of Lake Lachrymose (lachrymose here meaning, "given to tears or weeping", as I am sure the children were feeling at that moment). They have been placed in the care of Aunt Josephine, a woman afraid of everything. Still, this new home is not too too bleak. The children have a large library to go through (albeit a library full of grammar books) and things appear to be going fairly smoothly until they run across their nemesis Count Olaf yet again. This time, he is disguised as Captain Sham (love the name) and his new plans to get his hands on the orphans is just as devious as ever.

For vocabulary reasons alone these books are a wonder. Any parent reading them to their children would do well to explain all the little in-jokes that appear along the way (always assuming that the adults themselves GET the jokes in the first place). This book also is one of the first Baudelaire sagas in which the orphans actually see their guardian dispatched before their very eyes. Of course, you can't feel too badly about Aunt Josephine's death. She did attempt to sacrifice the orphans' lives for her own, in an act of cowardice that doomed her to death by (ugh) leeches. All in all, a wonderful continuation of A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Connor Gives This Book 5Stars
This book is the third book of the series and like all of them, they have an unpleasant ending. I liked this book because it had an interesting plot and because of the characters. My favorite character was Klaus because he loves books and so do I. Violet and Sunny were also good. Like all the stories in this series, Count Olaf tries to steal the Baudelaire's fortune but so far is not successful. In this book he tries to steal it by faking Aunt Josephine death and making her write a note saying that she wants Captain Sham (Count Olaf) to be the orphans' caretaker.

This book is about three unlucky orphans whose parents died in a fire. They move to Aunt Josephine house. When they were at the market one-day, they see a guy that looks like Count Olaf. He really is Count Olaf but he is in disguise as Captain Sham. The next day they find a letter on the library door saying that Aunt Josephine committed suicide. They find out that it was a secret message that ended up saying Curled Cave. They travel there and find her there. On the way back to the dock, leeches attack them. Captain Sham rescues them but he throws Aunt Josephine over board. And the leeches kill her. Mr. Poe find out that Captain Sham was really Count Olaf in disguise. He runs from them and locks the orphans and him behind a metal gate.

This book is good for people who like to read adventure and a little mystery. This book is good for children and young adults. People who read the first three books in this series should read this book for sure. I thought this book was good but not as good as The Reptile Room.

The Wide Window
I thought that the book was boring. Its good and all, but it is slow. They are sent to live with Aunt Josephine, a woman who is afraid of every thing, even the doorknob. Count Olaf appears and tries to steal the fortune.

The Third Book
This books picks up from the previous book as the orphans are now carted off to live with there aunt Josephine, ok so she's not actually their aunt but some odd fourth cousin twelve times removed or something. After reading two of the previous books in the series I am sure the reader can now guess that the children will have to deal with the horrid count Olaf again in some odd disguise that he has thought up. Still I did find this book enjoyable, but highly predictable by now. The author doses not change the style in which he writes and in fact the stories are of a very similar plot line. This is not to say that I will not read all thirteen books when they are published in their entirety. So hopefully all will enjoy this third installment of the orphan's grisly tale.

World Wide Window
This is the 3rd 'Unfortunate Events' book I have read, and call me slow, but are these books all just the same thing? Every book I have read so far has the poor orphans (a phrase meaning they lost their parents, not poor as in they have no money) being shipped off to some new location in the care of some well-meaning but dim person with a tenuous family connection, as the nefarious Count Olaf slips on a disguise and manages to fool everyone. Of course the children immediately know it is Count Olaf - the adults are dumb and stupid, and do not.

I guess that's what happens in every book of the series. Hmm. Anyway, this book finds the orphans heading off to visit their aunt, blahdeeblah, Count Olaf arrives dressed as a sea captain, blingbloo, Count Olaf almost inherits the orphans, so on, so forth, etc., etc. Adults die, threats of physical violence are made towards children...I think if I were a young child reading this book I'd be a bit frightened! I don't know who these books are targeted towards. ... Read more

Book Description

Another exciting collection of Adventures in Odyssey episodes is now available in CD format and repackaged cassette! In Terrific Tales, Mysterious Missions the Odyssey kids manage to get themselves into all kinds of interesting predicaments. But with a little help from John Avery Whitaker, the kids learn that God can guide them through anything. This collection of stories will take you from the discovery of a hidden treasure chest to a hair-raising voyage in the Imagination Station.

In Volume 6 of the Adventures in Odyssey series, children of all ages will hear more of their favorite episodes, including:

• "The Ill-Gotten Deed"
• “The Treasure of Le Monde!”
• “The Price of Freedom”
• “That's Not Fair”
• And many more!

Reviews (1)

Terrific tales, Mysterious Missions
Great fun for christian family listening. Good christian morals included in each adventure. One of the better Adventure in Oddessy series. I recomend Terrific Tales, Mysterious Missions to young or old. Very upbeat stories that keep your intrest. I listen to them over and over, year after year. Friends are always barrowing this series. ... Read more

Book Description

When James Henry Trotter accidentally drops some magic crystals by the old peach tree, strange things start to happen. The peach at the top of the tree begins to grow, and before long it's as big as a house. Then James discovers a secret entranceway into the fruit, and when he crawls inside, he meets a bunch of marvelous oversized friends -- Old-Green-Grasshopper, Centipede, Ladybug, Miss Spider, and more.

After years of feeling like an outsider in the house of his despicable Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker, James has finally found a place where he belongs. With a snip of the stem, the peach starts rolling away, and the exciting adventure begins!

Reviews (122)

James and the Giant Peach
This book is about a kid name James who lived with his parents. After James` parents died , James had no choice than to go live with his aunts, Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge. His aunts treated James like a slave. They were so cruel to poor little James.James lived a miserable life until one day magic happend. there was this tiny peach growing big and wide and James one day found a hole to go inside the peach and so he did.James went in and met all these wierd creatures. There was a centepide, an old green grass hopper,a spider,a ladybug,an Earthworm and a silk worm. All of the creatures were so huge.
I think that this book James and the Giant Peach is a great book. I really enjoyed reading this book because its funny it makes you laugh and its really cool because you can go around the world and see the oceans.I recommend this book for three reasons,First, because its really interesting and really curious. Second, because you will enjoy reading about someones life. Third, because you will see how nice friends can help each other out.

One of my favorites since the fourth grade.
This book has been one of my favorite books the third or fourth grade, I don't exactly remember which one, I just know that I've really liked it for a long time. I'm getting out of the seventh grade in a month and a half and I've read this book at least five times; each time I read it I enjoy it as if I was reading it for the first time and it never gets old or monotnous. This is a book that I would read to my children as a bed time story; it's really a book the whole family can enjoy. I love how original this book is and how it captures your immangination, regardless of what your age is. I love how different the characters' personalities are and how much they fit them. I especially love Centipede's rudeness and songs, and Aunt Sponges' vainness. Lane Smith's wild illustrations are great; they're much better than the boring realistic illustrations. "James and the Giant Peach" is definitly a keeper. Roald Dahl is, in my opinion, the best children's book writer of all time. If you enjoy this book, I guarantee that you'll love Dahl's "Matilda" and Dahl's "Witches".

James and the Giant Peach
When I read James and the Giant peach for the first time I loved it! it was adventurous and exciting! I loved how the writer made the creatures so interesting. Also she made the aunts look evil as was explainedin the book. I just wanted to reach in the book and yell at them! The book was kind-off mythical when james got to the cloud men. I could read that book over and over again and I would never get bored!

My Favorite book!
This book was great and full of adventure. I loved every moment of it(in other words... I don't have a favorite part). I would actually sit down and read this book over and over again. Normally, I won't even finish an entire book, but this one is worth taking time to read the whole thing. I enjoy the vivid imagination that Roald Dahl used in writing this book. He is a very tanlented writer. I only wish that there would have been a sequal.
Taylor McDowell

Generally good, but not without problems.
JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH is easy to read, catches the reader's attention, and takes the reader to a fantasy land. It has everything necessary to be a children's classic.

However, it is not without problems. In the book, James' two wicked aunts are killed as the peach flattens them and rolls over their lifeless bodies. Throughout the rest of the book the characters laugh and make up songs about their deaths. I know that in many fairy tales the wicked witch or stepmother dies, but I feel this book devalues life to the point that I would feel uncomfortable letting my young daughter read it. By the time she is old enough for me to feel comfortable with her reading the book, the book's plot will be too childish for her. ... Read more

Book Description

Dear Reader,

If you have just picked up this audio, then it is not too late to put it back down. Like the previous books in A Series of Unfortunate Events, there is nothing to be found in these pages but misery, despair, and discomfort, and you still have time to choose something else to read.

Within the chapters of this story, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire encounter a darkened staircase, a red herring, some friends in a dire situation, three mysterious initials, a liar with an evil scheme, a secret passageway, and parsley soda.

I have sworn to write down these tales of the Baudelaire orphans so the general public will know each terrible thing that has happened to them, but if you decide to read something else instead, you will save yourself from a heapful of horror and woe.

With all due respect,

Lemony Snicket

Reviews (77)

My opinion of The Vile Village and other books by L.S.
I am an avid reader of almost 12 years. I stumbled across The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket (I hate that pen name though) and I loved it. I read up to the 7th book and cannot wait for the 8th. These books were refreshingly short and entertaining. A Series of Unfortunate Events tells the long and sad epic, throughout many books, of Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire whose parents have perished in a house fire and who are left alone with the evil Count Olaf. Each are well developed and unique characters whose abilities come in useful at every turn only to be squashed by the evil doings of Olaf and his troupe. The books get better and better as you go along and meet characters like:

~Isadora and Duncan Quagmire, two triplets who are also journalists and poets

~Esme Squalor, the fancy pinstriped financial advisor

~Vice Principal Nero, the self-proclaimed genius violinist

~Sir, whose head is invisible due to a constant cloud of smoke

~and many more!

Please, try this series out and you will love it. I thouroughly recommend any book in the series to readers of Harry Potter and other magical stories who want a short and simple laugh-out-loud adventure.

Misfortune follows the Baudelaires to their newest home.
Because none of their distant relatives will take them in out of fear of Count Olaf, the three Baudelaire orphans become part of a new program based on the saying "It takes a village to raise a child." Under this program, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny's newest guardians will be all the residents of an entire village. In the hopes of solving the mystery of "V.F.D.," the children choose a village by that name as their new home. But they are terribly disappointed. They are sent to live with a kind but timid man named Hector who loves to cook Mexican food and has a library of forbidden books. V.F.D. is run by the strict Council of Elders, who have made tens of thousands of ridiculous rules that the citizens of the village must follow or risk being burned at the stake. When the Baudelaires are falsely accused of murder and imprisoned, they must escape from the jail and find their friends the Quagmires, who are hidden somewhere in the village. This was another miserable, hilarious book in A Series of Unfortunate Events that is a must-read for all fans of the series.

The Vile Village
This book was very exciting,funny, and has many miserable characters.Atleast Violet, Klaus, and Sunny have someone who cares for them, even though that person is not much help.This is the best book I've ever read. I hope other people enjoy it, too.

Quoth the crows, "Squawk!"
This is the first book in the Series of Unfortunate Events that I really wish I had heard on tape. Many parts of this tale should be heard spoken aloud to be truly appreciated. As it was, I was resigned to instead reading the book while working out on a particularly nasty elliptical runner all the time pondering the sad fate of the Baudelaire orphans and their friends. In "The Vile Village", the plot not only thickens but congeals. Here at last are more clues about the mysterious VFD. Here the name "Snicket" has arrived within the text of these pages rather than as merely its author and narrator. Here the clues add up and up.

Taking the phrase, "It takes a village to raise a child", a little too seriously, the Baudelaire orphans have now been officially adopted by none other than an entire village. The orphans have chosen this particular location because of its fascinating name, VFD. As you might recall, these initials were part of the Quagmire triplets' last cryptic words to the Baudelaires before they were officially kidnapped by the loathsome Count Olaf. As it turns out, the town is actually named the Village of Fowl Devotees due to its enormous crow population. While there, the orphans are required to do the chores for all the townspeople and live with the kindly handyman, Hector. It isn't long before mysterious messages in the form of rhyming couplets start appearing, apparently from the Quagmires. It's up to the Baudelaires to find their friends and save their own skin before an angry mob torches them forthwith.

While the tension runs high in this particular Snicket outing, I found it strangely hopeful at the end. Obviously this was not the author's intention, but that's how I felt anyway. Though tensions run high in this tale, the angry mob is about as threatening as the witch hunters in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail". Personally I was delighted when I was able to figure out where the Quagmires were being hidden by page 143. Then I remembered that I am currently 26 years of age and this book was written, ostensibly, for kids. Still, I think I've also figured out what VFD stands for, and only time will show if I am right or wrong.

The story itself is just as you would like it to be. The orphans have a little more enjoyable down time here and (much to my relief) far better food than they've had in some time. One squiggle of a squabble I did have involved the crows perching continually in the Nevermore tree. Shouldn't they be ravens? Otherwise, I liked Count Olaf's latest disguise (hence my wish that I could hear the audio of this book) and I especially enjoyed the clues and mystery in the tale. The author has the difficult job of continually upping the ante, as it were, while keeping these stories invigorating and interesting. At the end of this book the Baudelaires are in the direst of straits, but I have little doubt that they'll eventually pull through. Call it a bolt of optimism from the blue, if you will.

Exciting and unfortunate!
This book held my attention from the beginning to the end. Once I finished a chapter I didn't want to stop there. I have read from the first through the ninth books in this series. I intend to read the rest as well. I hope Lemony Snicket, the author, never stops creating additions to this series. Everyone should at least start the "Unfortunate" series because I think once they do, they will enjoy all of them as much as I have. ... Read more

Book Description

Armed only with a frying pan and her common sense, Tiffany Aching, a young witch-to-be, is all that stands between the monsters of Fairyland and the warm, green Chalk country that is her home. Forced into Fairyland to seek her kidnapped brother, Tiffany allies herself with the Chalk’s local Nac Mac Feegle -- aka the Wee Free Men -- a clan of sheep-stealing, sword-wielding, six-inch-high blue men who are as fierce as they are funny. Together, they battle through an eerie and ever-shifting landscape, fighting brutal flying fairies, dream-spinning dromes, and grimhounds -- black dogs with eyes of fire and teeth of razors -- before ultimately confronting the Queen of the Elves, absolute ruler of a world in which reality intertwines with nightmare. And in the final showdown, Tiffany must face her cruel power alone...

In a riveting narrative equal parts suspense and humor, Carnegie Medalist Terry Pratchett returns to his internationally popular Discworld with a breath-taking tale certain to leave fans, new and old, enthralled.

Reviews (35)

The Terrror of Having Your Dreams Come True...
"The Wee Free Men" is Terry Pratchett's second foray into Discworld-for-Young-Adults coming a year and a half after "The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents" and six months after his last 'regular' Discworld book, "Night Watch". It revisits ground from "Lords and Ladies" and "Carpe Jugulum", which is fine, because with usual Pratchett flair, he tosses in enough wry satire, strange humor and generally good storytelling that you don't always notice when he goes back to some of his older material.

While the Nac Mac Feegle (the Wee Free Men last seen in "Carpe Jugulum"), little woad-tattooed Pictsies, do feature in a large chunk of the book, the heroine is Tiffany, a nine-year-old witch's granddaughter and budding witch herself who must be the singularly most sensible (but still likeable) character I've ever read in a book directed at an audience less than 18 years old. She struggles to cope with the death of a grandmother who, even though she died more than a year ago, has still had a huge impact on her life. She also struggles with making sense of the world - both as a young girl and as a human being, and she struggles with the Queen of the Elves/Fairies (last seen in "Lords and Ladies") in what becomes a metaphor for matu