Elizabeth and Zenobia

September 25, 2017
After Elizabeth Murmur’s mother abandons Elizabeth and her father, they move into his childhood home, Witheringe House. Accompanying Elizabeth is her constant companion Zenobia, who her father dismisses as an imaginary friend but who Elizabeth knows is something... else (“There’s a faintness about her that makes it hard to tell where she ends and the rest of the world begins”). Unlike timid, scared-of-everything Elizabeth, Zenobia adores the gloomy, fog-shrouded mansion and is obsessed with conjuring a “Spirit Presence.” Elizabeth reluctantly follows Zenobia to the forbidden East Wing of the estate to perform séances, where they unravel a mystery surrounding Elizabeth’s father’s sister, who disappeared at age seven. Rounding out the gothic atmosphere of Australian author Miller’s first children’s book is a lurking housekeeper, a magical storybook, a cemetery, and a garden tended by a gardener who the adults claim doesn’t exist; Bryksenkova’s stark b&w spot illustrations add to the overall creepiness. Readers will be absorbed by Elizabeth and Zenobia’s conversations, the complex and chilling plot, Elizabeth’s transformation from meek to brave—and the mystery of what, exactly, Zenobia is. Ages 9–13.

Narrator Shiromi Arserio whisks listeners into a world in which ghosts make pleasant companions, gardens hold treacherous secrets, and kingdoms can be found inside wallpaper remains. Elizabeth and Zenobia are inseparable friends who are determined to uncover the secrets of Withering House, their new home. Arserio characterizes Elizabeth, a child dealing with the loss of her mother, with calm tones and quiet inquiries as she seeks her father's love and approval. Zenobia, whose most recent fascination is the study of clairvoyance, commands Elizabeth's attention with her confident air and direct accusations. As more characters are introduced, Arserio skillfully gives each his or her own distinct sound. Her captivating narration brings to life a fantastical tale with an unexpected ending. V.C. � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

January 22, 2018
Actor Arserio’s crisp narration of Miller’s middle grade novel captures the moody atmosphere of its gothic setting and the endearing nature of the friendship between its two protagonists. Mixing elements of ghost story and coming-of-age tale, the story follows a young, timid girl named Elizabeth, who, after being abandoned by her mother, moves with her distracted scientist father into his childhood home, an empty mansion called Witheringe House. Lonely and unable to attract her dad’s attention, Elizabeth finds companionship in Zenobia, a snarky friend who no one else can see. As Elizabeth and Zenobia roam the mansion, they detect ghosts and spirits that Elizabeth’s father and the stoic housekeeper dismiss as figments of Elizabeth’s imagination. Arserio reads the tale in low and mysterious tones that add intrigue and suspense. The book balances gruesome, spooky elements with the friendly banter between Elizabeth and Zenobia; Arserio’s narration provides the right proportions of tension and humor. Ages 9–13. An Amulet hardcover.