From School Library Journal
Grades 3-6--Originally published in 1899, The Story of the Treasure Seekers (Puffin, 1996) was E. Nesbit's first full-length novel. The childhood adventures of the Bastible brood in turn-of-the-century England include all the ingredients for a ripping good tale: six plucky youngsters, their widowed father, hard times, brave endeavors to restore the family fortune, and a mysterious benefactor. Each chapter follows the attempts of the children to restore their prosperity by efforts ranging from digging for gold in the garden to entering into a wine-selling scheme. The tale is told by Oswald, the second oldest of the children, in a breezy fashion. The narration by actor Simon Prebble captures perfectly the enthusiastic, sometimes breathless, conversational cadence of juvenile speech. Prebble's clear British accent ranging from crotchety to cheerful brings to life the cast of characters at a measured pace which allows listeners to gain full understanding, even if some of the more archaic terms pass by unrecognized. This work holds some stereotypical commentary of the time: a hook-nosed, rapacious money lender; the domestic role of girls; a comment, meant to be complimentary, by the benefactor uncle who had served in India that "if he's not a man, I'm a nigger." However, these jarring notes are few, and listeners will be left with a nostalgic sense of a time past where children in an adverse situation could encounter a princess while seeking treasure in the local park. Recommend this audiobook to fans of A Series of Unfortunate Events titles who may recognize the roots of many of the elements parodied by Lemony Snicket. This work will also find enthusiastic listeners in those budding Anglophiles who, in the wake of Harry Potter, want to immerse themselves in all things English.
Mary Burkey, Grandview Heights City Schools, OH
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Mary Burkey, Grandview Heights City Schools, OH
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Présentation de l'éditeur
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.
