Six Days

Gr 5–8—Philip Webb's suspenseful science fiction tale (Scholastic/Chicken House, 2011) is perfectly suited to audio format. The action-packed story is narrated by Cass, a feisty 15-year-old. She and her younger brother, Wilbur, live in post-apocalyptic London and work as scavengers, or scavs, for the ruling Russian Vlads. Scavs are charged with pilfering through the ruins in search of a mysterious and powerful artifact. Wilbur's obsession with a comic book character provides a lead and a fortuitous meeting with Erin and Peyto, young travelers from another time, who are also searching for the artifact. Supposedly the world will come to an end if the artifact isn't found in six days. Narrator Jo Hall gives Cass a spot-on, thick cockney accent that sometimes requires careful listening. She skillfully uses a variety of accents, as well as different tones and pacing, to provide unique voices for the assortment of characters. The robotic voice of Maleva, who is kept alive by a battery-powered suit, is a bit too stilted and becomes annoying. The other voices are pleasing and easily distinguished. The plot is engaging, but the ending seems a bit rushed and not completely satisfying. Listeners may ponder the fate of Wilbur and the 47 other "sleepers" who remain in suspended animation when the story concludes. Despite a few flaws, listeners will enjoy the story.—Patricia McClune, Conestoga Valley High School, Lancaster, PA