The Great Good Thing

Townley, Roderick

ISBN 10: 0807204978 ISBN 13: 9780807204979

Publisher: Listening Library, 2001

Synopsis

Twelve-year-old Princess Sylvie's storybook kingdom really is a storybook, where nothing ever changes, even the character's mad scramble to reach their places whenever the book is opened, until Sylvie discovers she can enter new worlds with the Reader, and find new adventures.

About this title

Reviews

Gr 4-6-Roderick Townley's story about a story (Atheneum, 2001) follows 12-year-old Princess Sylvie, the main character in "The Great Good Thing," a book which is read and loved by young Claire. Claire's grandmother had read and loved it long before and it creates a bond between them. When Claire's thoughtless brother sets the book on fire, the characters cross over into Claire's mind, but this existence proves perilous because the story starts to lose its shape and the characters to rust from disuse. Encouraged by "the girl" (Claire's grandmother as she was when she was a girl), Sylvie crosses into the mind of Lily, Claire's daughter, and through her the story is retold and published (40,000 copies), bringing new life to its characters. This is a clever concept that allows the author to make some strong statements about the "life" of a story, its characters, and its author as well as the interplay between readers and stories. Broadway actress Blair Brown reads beautifully, with just enough voice to distinguish and "give life" to each character, but avoids making a dramatic production of the whole. Her timing and expression are excellent, and her voice clear and pleasing. Fantasy lovers and children who enjoy such books as Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth will enjoy this audiobook.

Louise L. Sherman, formerly Anna C. Scott School, Leonia, NJ

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Listening Library
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0807204978
• ISBN 13: 9780807204979
• Binding: Audio Cassette