Audio Book Review of Adventure Series for Kids

Ancient Civilizations and Time Travel Make Stories Exciting

Mar 24, 2009

Italian author Pierdomenico Baccalario has written a series of books featuring three young adventurers unwittingly traveling through time. Two stories are featured here.

As 11 year old twins Jason and Julia Covenant are settling into their new abode, Argo Manor, they begin to notice some unusual things. For one, Jason swears he hears furniture moving when no one is around. Then the kids wonder why the portrait of Ulysses Moore, the previous owner, is not on display with the other former occupants.

Brilliance Audio has put out a fine production of the books featuring Michael Page as the reader. This is a great way to be introduced to the story for younger readers who may find it hard to read but exciting to listen to.

When the Covenant’s parents need to finish their move from London, the kids stay behind and invite new friend Rick Banner as their guest for the weekend. The twins’ mother, reluctant to leave them, is reassured by the manor’s caretaker, Nestor, that the children will be fine.

Of course, this is where the adventure begins. The kids begin a wild goose chase that starts with an unclaimed package containing old keys shaped like different animals. Once they solve the puzzle of unlocking a door in Argo Manor, it leads them to a cavern containing an old wooden sailing ship.

Jason is a day dreamer and open to the odd things that they find. Rick and Julia are much more skeptical and unwilling to suspend belief. It is Jason’s vivid imagination that leads the trio to another place and time. As the story concludes, some questions are resolved while others remain unanswered.

The plot continues with the three adventurers trying to discover where the mysterious sailing ship has brought them. While exploring the strange surroundings, an accident separates the boys from Julia.

In the meantime, a villainess appears on the scene. Oblivia Newton makes a brief appearance in the first story, but her role in the adventure becomes much clearer in the second one. Getting help from her “heavy” Manfred, she finds a way to chase the kids through time.

As Julia finds herself mysteriously back at Argo Manor, Jason and Rick run through the streets of ancient Egypt and attempt to piece together clues left by Ulysses More. Along the way, they are helped or hindered by the daughter of a scribe, a strange old map seller and a hideous man with Oblivia Newton close on their heels.

Julia and Nestor find themselves fending off an unwelcome guest in the form of Manfred. After Oblivia crosses over to Egypt, Manfred takes matters into his own hands. Argo Manor is under attack.

The pace of the stories is quick, and readers will be eager to continue. The characters are well developed and easy to like or despise.

As a narrator, Page does an excellent job reading the stories -- adeptly changing his voice to suit all of the characters. His delivery makes it easy to follow along when the plot gets complicated.

Baccalario’s stories seem to translate well. He has captured the settings of the English countryside and ancient Egypt with vivid detail while creating believable characters and rousing tales. The House of Mirrors and The Isle of Masks are two more audio books featuring Jason, Julia and Rick.

The copyright of the article Audio Book Review of Adventure Series for Kids in Chidren's Audiobooks is owned by Noreen Mulcahy. Permission to republish Audio Book Review of Adventure Series for Kids in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.