Guest

Narrator Shelley Atkinson's Irish accent complements this magical folktale featuring a strong-willed girl and a changeling child. Molly Cloverall's inattentiveness allows the misnamed Kinde Folke to snatch her baby brother and leave a screaming, hideous changeling in his place. The family names the repulsive changeling Guest, hoping he won't stay. Atkinson's tone matches Molly's mood--impatient, resentful, and defensive--as she refuses to acknowledge that she is at fault and blames Guest for their troubles. Impulsively, Molly strikes out with Guest to find the malicious Kinde Folke, hoping to exchange him for her brother. As Guest learns to speak, his voice is raspy and high, but not unpleasant. Atkinson later moderates Molly's tone as she receives Guest's unwavering attempts to help her as they encounter perilous lands fraught with magic and danger. L.T. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine