February 22, 2010
One of the foremost living children's fantasy writers, Jones serves up a quirky comedy of magicians dealing with an incursion of troublesome fairies in contemporary England. Andrew Hope, an absentminded academic with magical abilities he barely recognizes, has inherited the property and responsibilities of his wizard grandfather. Melstone House comes complete with two bossy and irate servants, Mr. Stock and Mrs. Stock (no relation), as well as a number of supernatural beings, including an elusive giant. Andrew wants to write a book, but he's soon distracted by 12-year-old Aidan, who is on the run from supernatural enemies; Stashe, a pretty young woman intent on becoming his secretary; and the wealthy, powerful, and mysterious Mr. Brown. The pacing is leisurely, but Jones writes with the utmost respect for readers' intelligence. One very funny gag has Stashe using horse racing results for divination (“The two-oh-five at Kempton: first, Dark Menace; second, Runaway; third, Sanctuary. That seems to outline the situation pretty well, doesn't it?”), just one of several unusual talents that Melstone residents exhibit. Although the book contains a few tense moments, whimsy is the dominant mood and there's little doubt that virtue and romance will triumph. Ages 10–up.
December 1, 2010
Gr 7-9-In Diana Wynne Jones's labyrinthine tale (Greenwillow, 2010), Andrew Hope has recently been informed of his grandfather's death and subsequent inheritance of his estate in Melstone. As Andrew comes to take possession of the house and property, he discovers some rather unusual characters both within the grounds and outside in what his grandfather called his "field of care." When a boy named Aidan Cain shows up on his doorstep seeking protection, Andrew finds himself embroiled in a magical mystery involving the great fairy king Oberon, regular village folk of Melstone, and various magical creatures. Andrew must discover everything his grandfather wanted him to remember from his childhood about the "field of care." Steven Crossley's deep, rich voice suits the subtle ironies and complications of the text. While he shows great skill in timing, he is less adept at voicing the many characters in Andrew's world. He gives most of the villagers the same type of accent, except for Andrew's love interest, Stashe, who sounds very different. Andrew believes that Stashe's father, Tarquin, is a leprechaun, and while Crossley sometimes gives him a very slight Irish accent, it is mostly inconsistent. These vocal problems make an already complicated plot even more difficult to follow. With Jones's penchant for assuming her readers will infer many important plot points by careful listening, and Crossley's erratic narration, this is best suited to fans of the author's previous work.-Necia Blundy, Marlborough Public Library, MA
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