Far Far Away

From the first word, this rich recording envelops the listener. Both the production quality and the performance are superb. W. Morgan Sheppard's narration is a vehicle of otherworldly transport that truly takes the listener far far away. Sheppard's voice embodies the haunting aspects of this dark tale. Jacob Grimm, of the Brothers Grimm, is a ghost seeking redemption. Through guiding and protecting Jeremy, a boy whose odd talent is hearing the dead, he hopes to find his way beyond the in-between. First, he must prevent the dark whispered threat that shrouds Jeremy's life from coming to fruition. Sheppard's tone conveys Jacob's tenderness toward his charge--whether he's consoling, chiding, or urging Jeremy not to let the spirited Ginger lure him into certain trouble. A.M.P. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine

Starred review from July 8, 2013
The ghost of Jacob Grimm—one of the famous fairy-tale collecting brothers—communicates with a lonely boy who is a clairaudient (someone who hears spirits) in this rich and often bone-chilling story. Trapped in "the space between" Earth and the afterlife, Jacob constantly accompanies Jeremy, offering him comfort, affection, and cerebral commentary about Jeremy's life that only the boy can hear. Jacob believes that by protecting Jeremy he can finally move on after 200 years and reunite with his deceased brother. But when Jacob fails to see the source of the danger threatening Jeremy, he must harness all of his ethereal resources to save the boy he loves and ensure a chance at a happy ending. In addition to recounting pieces from the Grimms' stories, McNeal—in his first solo novel for teens—weaves in fantastical fairy-tale details into this inventive and deeply poignant narrative, creating a world that hovers between realism and enchantment. Jacob's tale is menacing, at times terrifying, and often strange—much like the stories collected by the Brothers Grimm. Ages 12 – up. Agent: George Nicholson, Sterling Lord Literistic.