A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park

This book provides a fascinating look into life in 12th Century Korea. While in some ways life was as primative as in Dark Ages Europe, there were fine craftsmen and a well-developed culture. The book's hero, Tree Ear, is an orphan, which made him somewhat of a second class citizen in a culture where crafts and vocations are passed from Father to Son. Tree Ear wants to be a potter, as many of the men in his village are, so when the opportunity presents itself, he begins to work for one of the expert potters in the village. When the news comes that an emissary from the King was coming to order pottery for the Palace, Tree Ear must help his master prepare, then later take a long and dangerous journey to take samples of his work to the Capital. Will his effort succeed in helping his master receive a royal commission? The audiobook is well narrated by Graeme Malcolm. A Newbery Award Winner. A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park. Listening Library, 2001.

The Dangerous Alphabet

This creepy, gross A-Z follows a girl and boy on a trip through a netherworld of monsters and evil creatures. There is a rhyme for each letter that elaborates on the perils and problems they encounter as illustrated by Gris Grimley. Young lovers of monsters and mayhem will shiver with delight. The Dangerous Alphabet by Neil Gaiman. Illustrated by Gris Grimly. HarperCollinsPublishers, 2008.

Lily's Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff

Every summer, Lily goes with her family to their summer house in Rockaway. It's a special time she looks forward to every year, but in the summer of 1944, things are changing. There's a war on and her best friend Margaret is moving far away so her father can work in a wartime factory. And, she soon discovers her father is leaving, too. He's joining the Army to help the war effort. Angry and alone, Lily soon meets a newcomer, a boy named Albert, who is a refugee from Hungary staying with relatives in Rockaway. Albert's sister has been left behind in France, and he is trying to figure out a way to get back to her. A touching slice of life about a challenging time in American history. The audiobook is ably narrated by Mia Dillon. It includes musical interludes and sound effects. A Newbery Honor Book. Lily's Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff. Listening Library, Random House, 1998.

The Grey King by Susan Cooper

The fourth volume of The Dark is Rising Sequence finds Will Stanton recovering from a serious illness at his Aunt and Uncles farm in Wales. There he learns of a malevolent force in the local mountains, known as the Grey King, who is working with the Dark. With the help of a local boy, Bran, he finds the next relic in his quest to help the Light win the long battle with the dark, which leads to a showdown with the forces of the Dark and the Grey King. The book is full of Welsh expression, facts and information. The author notes that while that characters are fictional, the places are real. The book is enjoyable and suspenseful, but I would recommend it be read in after the others in the series for greatest appreciation and understanding. The Grey King by Susan Cooper. Aladdin Paperbacks, 1975.