The Seer of Shadows

Avi's latest is a historical novel with a touch of magical mystery. In New York City in 1872, photography is still a new technology--part science and part magic. Horace Carpetine, who was raised to believe in the rationality of science over superstition, has been apprenticed to the photographer Enoch Middleditch. However, his rational mind is challenged when Mrs. Von Macht commissions a photograph to calm the restless spirit of her dead daughter. Steven Boyer animates 14-year-old Horace as he wrestles with his desire to learn and his unease with the dishonest methods of Mr. Middleditch. Wisely, the production adds no embellishments, letting Boyer's vocal talents create an atmosphere of mystery and otherworldliness that lures the listener in to the end of this compelling tale. N.E.M. Winner of AudioFIle Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

Starred review from April 14, 2008
Newbery Medalist Avi (Crispin: The Cross of Lead
) sets this intriguing ghost story in 19th-century New York City, where a photographer’s apprentice has a horrifying run-in with a spirit bent on revenge. In the fall of 1872, 14-year-old narrator Horace Carpetine reluctantly becomes involved in his employer’s scheme to dupe a superstitious client, wealthy Mrs. Von Macht. The plan is to make a tidy profit by producing a double exposure and offering her an unusual portrait, one incorporating a superimposed image of her dead daughter, Eleanora. Events depart from the expected when the ghost of Eleanora literally enters the picture, and Horace discovers his ability to capture departed souls on film. Suspense builds as the Von Machts’ servant, Pegg, reveals secrets about the Von Macht family and explains that Eleanor’s angry spirit, brought back into the world through the camera lens, may want revenge on both Mrs. Von Macht and her husband. Mirroring both the style and themes of gothic novels of the period, the story takes ghastly and ghostly turns that challenge Horace’s belief in reason. Details about photographic processes add authenticity, while the book’s somber ending will leave spines tingling. Ages 8-12.