The Castle Corona

From its opening lines--"Long ago and far away . . ."--listeners know they'll be treated to another beguiling tale by Sharon Creech. The story is populated by a spoiled royal family, two wise hermits who keep the family from being too shallow, and two peasant children who (at last) bring curiosity and introspection to the self-indulgent castle. Although the story may play out too slowly for some young listeners, Jennifer Wiltsie's narration perfectly matches the languid pace of the tale. Wiltsie carefully and skillfully finds each nuance of humor and irony in the evolution of the royal family. The varied voices of the servants who gently bring about this evolution will be the listeners' primary joy. K.C. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

September 17, 2007
colorfully adorned with intricate designs that loosely recall illuminated manuscripts, Newbery Medalist Creech's (Walk Two Moons
) protracted fairy tale traces how two orphaned peasants come to rub elbows with royalty. “Long ago and far away,” Pia and her younger brother, Enzio, discover a leather pouch marked with the king's seal. Before they can understand the meaning of the objects inside, the two children are whisked off to the Castle Corona to become “tasters” for a king fearful of being poisoned. There Pia and Enzio become acquainted with a spoiled princess and two young princes (one dreams of being a poet; the other wants to become a mighty warrior). As befits the genre, the author uses broader strokes than usual to define her characters. Members of the royal family are hopelessly out of touch with their subjects and busy themselves with tradition. Country folk and castle servants are more grounded and resourceful. Nonetheless, as royalty and peasant children intermingle inside the castle walls, perspectives broaden and the complexity of individual personalities comes to light. The playful tone and gentle criticism of aristocracy can be engaging, in much the same way that Creech's warmth and easy humor work well in her slice-of-life novels, but the fairy-tale genre raises expectations that go unmet. Readers may pine for a liberal sprinkling of magic and a more exciting climax before the conventional happily-ever-after ending. Ages 8-12.

January 28, 2008
Actress Wiltsie deftly narrates the Newbery Medalist's protracted fairy tale, which takes place in something like a medieval Italian kingdom. The story unfolds in short episodic chapters that follow two orphaned peasant children, Pia and Enzio, who discover a leather pouch marked with King Guido's seal. Before they can understand the meaning of the objects inside the pouch, they are whisked off to the Castle Corona to become “tasters” for the king, who is fearful of being poisoned. Wiltsie alternates effortlessly between narrator and the many different voices: outspoken Pia, arrogant Prince Vito, silly and spoiled Princess Fabrizia, aristocratic King Guido. The playful tone, the mystery of a thief's identity and the wide range of voices will give listeners several hours of enjoyment. Ages 8-12. Simultaneous release with the HarperCollins/Cotler hardcover (Reviews, Sept. 17, 2007).

February 1, 2008
Gr 3-6-Long ago and far away there lived a king, a queen, the heir to the throne, the second prince, a beautiful princess, and two orphan children. The cast of delightful characters in Sharon Creechs gentle fairy tale (Joanna Cotler Books, 2007) will intrigue and entertain listeners. When a supposed thief (unheard of in the simple land) charges out of the castle on horseback with a mysterious pouch, the royal community is in an uproar. Meanwhile, Pia and Enzio, the two orphans from a neighboring village, discover the stolen pouch dropped by the thief and find themselves suddenly connected with the castle in ways they never imagined. Jennifer Wiltsie does a wonderful job of giving voice to the inimitable players in this often humorous tale. She perfectly captures the tone and pace of the story, transporting listeners to a land both enchanting and droll."Deanna Romriell, Salt Lake City Public Library, UT"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2007
In a departure for Creech, whose previous novels have all been set in the present day, the Newbery Medal winner offers a good-hearted, gently comic fairy tale set in feudal Italy. Using parallel stories that eventually dovetail, Creech introduces the Castle Coronas sheltered, slightly ridiculous royal family and Pia and Enzio, orphaned peasant children from the nearby village. Brief, cleverly paced episodes reveal that several fixtures of castle lifethe king and queens respective hermit advisors, and the court storytellersubtly engineer Pia and Enzios appointment as royal food tasters, for purposes linked to a stolen pouch found by the children early on. The novels many characters are more allegorical than flesh-and-blood, and the hasty revelations at storys end dont entirely satisfy. But the engaging, puzzlelike plot will attract readers, as the novels heady themes, from wisdom to empathy to the fate-changing power of story, prompt them to deeper thought. Diazs full-color chapter-heading artwork and ornamental flourishes lend the novel substantial aesthetic appeal.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)