THE BEASTS OF CLAWSTONE CASTLE

Madlyn and Rollo must stay with eccentric relatives at Clawstone. Instead of resenting their stint at the remote castle, the two children throw themselves into helping their great-aunt and -uncle boost ticket sales for the tours that help support “the beasts,” Clawstone’s unique white cattle. They invite ghosts to perform on visiting days. Ibbotson excels at creating eccentric, likable characters, as her ghosts’ personalities prove. The author’s humorous, sometimes acerbic insights into human nature—offered in narrative asides to listeners—are sharpened further by Jenny Sterlin’s expressive reading. Sterlin enhances the ghosts’ charismatic qualities by endowing them with memorable voices and also does a terrific job inhabiting the strong narrative voice that delights listeners in this quirky, funny, and often touching tale. J.C.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 07]