AVALON WEB OF MAGIC BOOK 1 Circles in the Stream

This story combines two elements irresistible to many girls of a certain age: animals and magic. When animals at a local wildlife preserve begin showing up injured, Emily, daughter of the new vet in town, soon finds that she is one of a trio of girls who are the animals' only hope. Singer/actress Mandy Moore's performance is uneven, marring, more than helping, the book. She is at her best when she uses her natural voice, which can be expressive and believable. However, the voice she creates for Ozzie, an elf trapped in a ferret's body, is whiny and hard to listen to. Her voice also tends toward a whine when she's attempting to convey emotions like anger and fear. Still, the book's appeal will help many listeners forgive this flaw. A.F. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 02/ JAN 03]