The Adventures of Tintin

Nick Sullivan's narration begins with a neutral-voiced, straightforward description of Tintin, "a young reporter with a nose for news." Soon Sullivan launches into dramatic characterizations, beginning with Tintin's light British accent and his deep enthusiasm for the Unicorn, a three-masted model ship he buys. Almost immediately villain Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine enters, his evil tones affecting just the right sinister sound as he tries to bully Tintin into selling the Unicorn without success. This speedy entry sets the quick pace of nonstop adventures--a mysterious scroll slips from the ship's mast; Tintin is kidnapped and finds himself traveling aboard a sailing ship. Sullivan's portrayals of the story's larger-than-life characters take listeners to exotic lands, where treasure and surprises await around every corner. S.W. (c) AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

April 1, 2012

Gr 2-5-Stephanie Peters's chapter-format novelization of Stephen Speilberg's movie, adapted from Herge's (Georges Remi) original Tintin series, is intended for young children. While this version diverges from the original, it still holds plenty of appeal for young adventure fans looking for a quick turn of fun. When boy journalist Tintin buys a magnificent model ship, a stranger quickly shows interest in the purchase and offers to double the price, piquing Tintin's interest. When the ship is broken a short time later, Tintin discovers a piece of parchment hidden inside that leads him on a seafaring adventure filled with pirates, puzzles, and treasure. Narrator Nick Sullivan provides a mixed performance. His voicing of all the characters is excellent, giving each a unique sound. However, his habit of over-enunciating some of his words often gives the story an unnatural feel and distracts listeners from the magic of the tale. Still, this is a solid performance that will appeal to listeners.-Deanna Romriell, Salt Lake City Public Library, UT

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.