The Children of Green Knowe

April 1, 2002
Back in the Knowe In The Children of Green Knowe (1955) by L.M. Boston, the first title in The Green Knowe Chronicles, Toby visits his great-grandmother's manor house, Green Knowe, for the first time and discovers her witchy ways and ghostly guests. The repackaging of the classic series contains Peter Boston's original b&w interior illustrations; Brett Helquist, known for his work in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events books, provides haunting cover art. All five titles in the series are now available in hardcover and paperback: Treasure of Green Knowe (1958); The River at Green Knowe (1959); A Stranger at Green Knowe (1961); An Enemy at Green Knowe (1964).

Starred review from January 16, 2006
British actor Vance's full-bodied and inviting performance infuses this good-natured fantasy with the kind of charm likely to hook Harry Potter and Narnia fans. Young Toseland (Tolly for short) isn't sure what to expect when he is sent to spend a holiday with his Great-grandmother Oldknow in her huge castle of a house in England. He arrives in the middle of a flood, and feels as if he is climbing aboard Noah's Ark, which sets the stage for this unusual adventure. Soon Granny is telling Tolly about Toby and the other children (and animals) who sometimes come to the house, "when they want to." Listeners and Tolly learn that Toby and his full-of-energy siblings Linnet and Alexander are ghosts; they died during the Great Plague. Magic, mystery and fun will bring listeners along for an entertaining ride, even if they may not always be sure where the ghosts begin and real-life leaves off. Vance's characterizations of comforting Granny and inquisitive, excitable Tolly are engaging throughout. Five subsequent titles—all inspired by the author's restoration of an English manor house in 1930s Cambridge—are also available on audio. Ages 9-up.