The Appearance of Annie van Sinderen

In this carefully crafted ghost story, Annie, a girl who died in 1825, must figure out how to rewrite the past so she can find peace. She gets help from Wes, a boy in present-day New York. For Part I of the story, told from Wes's point of view, Jesse Bernstein narrates in an even, if somewhat uninspired, tone. For Part II, from Annie's point of view, Kathleen McInerney offers an enthusiastic reading, expertly conveying Annie's fear as she finds herself running out of time. McInerney's gentle tone makes Annie sound timeless. Part III alternates the points of view, with Bernstein and McInerney alternating as well. The shifts between narrators increase the story's tension as the truth of what happened to Annie van Sinderen is revealed. E.N. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

Starred review from September 7, 2015
Nineteen-year-old aspiring documentarian Wes Auckerman is days away from showing his short film at an NYU summer workshop when a strange girl appears during a friend's film shoot. Meanwhile, almost two centuries earlier, beautiful, coy Annatje "Annie" Van Sinderen is attempting to uncover the truth behind her father's canal business dealings, specifically the reason why the Brotherhood of the Luddites would label her father a "slavemonger." Oscillating between Wes and Annie's viewpoints, Howe (Conversion) cleverly blends Annie's story and Wes's infatuation with another enigmatic young womanâfreegan, anarchistic Maddieâwho proves to be much more than she seems. As Annie runs out of time to unlock the connections between her family and the Brotherhood, and Wes prepares for his film reveal, both make choices that will alter their futures. With aplomb, Howe captures the tricky distinctions of adolescence, especially the challenges in trusting one's inner voice. Annie's movements from past to present are hauntingly etched, creating an eeriness that lingers after the novel's romantic ending. Ages 12âup. Agent: Suzanne Gluck, William Morris Endeavor.