The Exiles - Softcover

Hilary McKay is the award-winning author of The Skylarks’ War (which was a Boston Globe Best Book, and received three starred reviews), Binny Bewitched (which was a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year and received two starred reviews), Binny in Secret (which received three starred reviews), Binny for Short (which received four starred reviews), and six novels about the Casson family: Saffy’s Angel, Indigo’s Star, Permanent Rose, Caddy Ever After, Forever Rose, and Caddy’s World. She is also the author of Wishing for Tomorrow, the sequel to Frances Hodgson Burnett’s A Little Princess. Hilary lives with her family in Derbyshire, England. Visit her at HilaryMcKay.co.uk.

Grade 5-8-British actress Sophie Aldred brings to life the four eccentric Conroy sisters of Hilary McKay's (Saffey's Angel) The Exiles (McElderry Books, 1992) in this delightful audio recording. Naomie, Ruth, Rachel, and Phoebe are "exiled" to their "Big Grandma's" house in the country for the summer while their parents are having work done on the house. The girls' feelings of disappointment and dismay at being shipped off to stay with their stern and terrifying grandmother are compounded once they discover that Grandma has no books-except cookbooks and The Complete Works of Shakespeare-and that they are expected to entertain themselves outdoors. Their bizarre imaginations serve them well in finding activities such as fishing in a bucket, attempting to swim to the Isle of Man, and baiting badgers. Listening to the sisters bicker with each other, to their interactions with other members of the small town (who have been warned of the girls' arrival), and to their letters home, you will feel like a fly on the wall of one of the funniest summer vacations ever. Aldred's voice gives personality to each of the characters, especially each sister, and sets the tone for this quirky novel. Some children may not be familiar with all of the British terms in the text, but they can be understood in context. This audiobook is a quality choice for school and public libraries.
Casey Rondini, Westerly Public Library, RI
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