The Golden Hour

Kliatt, Jan, 2005 by Sherri Ginsberg

THE GOLDEN HOUR. Maiya Williams. 2004. Read by Kevin R. Free. 5 tapes. 7.5 hrs. Recorded Books. 1-4193-0378-3. $45.75. Vinyl; plot, reader notes. J

In this time travel fantasy, 13-year-old Rowan and his 11-year-old sister Nina, coping with the loss of their mother, are sent to spend the summer with two eccentric aunts in a tiny town in Maine. Rowan and Nina make friends with twins, Xanthe and Xavier. The four of them explore an abandoned hotel, which is really a station for time travelers. The excitement increases when Rowan and the twins wind up in turbulent French Revolution times, in jail and within days of being executed by the guillotine.

There will be few young listeners knowledgeable about this period in French history, but this will not interfere with enjoying this book and might encourage them to learn more history. The author is a TV writer who has produced such original nuggets as Rugrats, Mad TV and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. This is her scintillating debut in children's literature. Reader Free is an accomplished stage actor with an impressive array of references. His voice adds pure electricity to the story. His assortment of voices embellishes the story, making it an enchanted treat. Sherri Ginsberg, Chapel Hill, NC

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers.