The Star of Kazan.THE STAR OF KAZAN. Eva Ibbotson. 2204/ 2005. Read by Patricia Connolly. 7 tapes. 10.25 hrs. Recorded Books. 1-4193-2001-7. $85.74. Vinyl vinyl /vi·nyl/ (vi´nil) the univalent group CH2dbondCH—. vinyl chloride a vinyl group to which an atom of chlorine is attached; the monomer which polymerizes to polyvinyl chloride; it is toxic ; plot notes. J Annika was found in a church as a baby and rescued by Ellie and Sigrid, servants in a household of three professors in old Vienna. She loves her adopted family very much, but naturally she is thrilled thrill v. thrilled, thrill·ing, thrills v.tr. 1. To cause to feel a sudden intense sensation; excite greatly. 2. To give great pleasure to; delight. See Synonyms at enrapture. when her long-lost mother appears, reclaims her, and sweeps her off to the family castle in Germany. But things--no surprise--are not what they seem. The castle is crumbling, Annika's restored family behaves oddly, and her mother seems to have secrets she isn't sharing, but Annika remains unflinchingly loyal to the end, like the good girl she is. The novel is stuffed full of rich historical details from the early 1900s, and there are Lipizzaner stallions and a mysterious inheritance of jewels to liven li·ven tr. & intr.v. li·vened, li·ven·ing, li·vens To make or become more lively: liven up a party; a discussion that livened up. things up; but, in the end, the focus is family and love of family. Connolly sounds decades older than the pre-adolescent Annika, but she is good as the distant mother and a variety of adults, pompous pom·pous adj. 1. Characterized by excessive self-esteem or exaggerated dignity; pretentious: pompous officials who enjoy giving orders. 2. and otherwise, who are involved in this old-fashioned tale. Characters are only semi-voiced, but the large cast does not become confusing con·fuse v. con·fused, con·fus·ing, con·fus·es v.tr. 1. a. To cause to be unable to think with clarity or act with intelligence or understanding; throw off. b. . Recommend this title to those who love A Little Princess A Little Princess is a 1905 children's novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It is a revised and expanded version of Burnett's 1888 serialized novella entitled Sara Crewe: or, What happened at Miss Minchin's boarding school, which was published in St. or Peppermints in the Parlor. Carol Reich, Youth Svcs., Hillsboro PL, Hillsboro, OR J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers. |
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