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London Calling Audiobook
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(3.03) - 755 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Martin Conway comes from a family filled with heroes and disgraces. His grandfather was a statesman who worked at the US Embassy in London during WWII. His father is an alcoholic who left his family. His sister is an overachieving Ivy League graduate. And Martin? Martin is stuck in between--floundering. But during the summer after 7th grade, Martin meets a boy who will change his life forever. Jimmy Harker appears one night with a deceptively simple question: Will you help? Where did this boy come from, with his strange accent and urgent request? Is he a dream? It's the most vivid dream Martin's ever had. And he meets Jimmy again and again--but how can his dreams be set in London during the Blitz? How can he see his own grandather, standing outside the Embassy? How can he wake up with a head full of people and facts and events that he certainly didn't know when he went to sleep--but which turn out to be verifiably real? The people and the scenes Martin witnesses have a profound effect on him. They become almost more real to him than his waking companions. And he begins to believe that maybe he can help Jimmy. Or maybe that he must help Jimmy, precisely because all logic and reason argue against it. This is a truly remarkable and deeply affecting novel about fathers and sons, heroes and scapegoats. About finding a way to live with faith and honor and integrity. And about having an answer to the question: What did you do to help?
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"When a young boy inherits a vintage radio from his grandmother he finds he can travel back in time to WWII London. He meets another young boy named Jimmy. Through him he actually sees his grandfather as a young man. The book also deals with perceived heroes and real heroes. An interesting book with a different story line."
— Gina (4 out of 5 stars)
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“[A] tale of historical intrigue and wrongs righted…Martin’s determination and the vivid scenes of London during the Blitz are sure to appeal.”
— Kliatt -
“This genre-defying novel incorporates mysticism steeped in Martin’s Catholic faith and a present-day trip to London that connects two troubled father-son relationships across the decades.”
— Booklist -
“Observant teens will appreciate the contrast between Martin’s and Jimmy’s lives, particularly with the personal problems that they both strive to overcome. There is a bit of something for everyone in this novel, with its elegant blend of contemporary teen angst, time travel, and history.”
— VOYA -
“Superbly narrated by actor Robertson Dean, Edward Bloor’s novel will interest young adult readers with its deft blend of history and science fiction.”
— School Library Journal (audio review) -
“Martin is introduced to a maze of mysterious parallels and alternating times and places, all of which are kept straight through the strong narration of Robertson Dean. Dean shifts accents easily as Martin time-travels to Jimmy’s world, Blitz-filled London of 1940. Dean’s resonant tones have a haunting quality for a tale that has otherworldly elements and a dream-like mission that may bring redemption to several characters.”
— AudioFile
London Calling Listener Reviews
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" This book was amazing. I absolutely loved it...i could not put it down...it was so interesting...the story was well thought out and moved along quite well... "
— Victoria, 2/17/2014 -
" Good storyline, but it wasn't as good as I thought it could be. I wish there had been more about the dream/time travel to 1940 and less about the school. With so much time spent on the happenings at the school, the ending felt a bit rushed. "
— Judy, 2/10/2014 -
" Not Bloor's best work, but still an interesting story and a vivid introduction to World War II era London. Bloor is a treasure among authors for young readers. "
— Steven, 2/7/2014 -
" A young boy travels back in time and ends up using this experience to heal on an old perceived wrong, change his relationship with his father and find strength within himself. Bloor is such a good writer/storyteller that I had to finish despite this not being a story I really enjoyed. The details about England, London in particular, during WWII were very well placed and relevant. "
— Tracie, 2/4/2014 -
" This is a really fun read. A bit religious, but a really good read aloud for fifth grade. "
— Todd, 1/16/2014 -
" I was excited about this book when I heard about it. I didn't think you could go wrong with the London Blitz and time travel. Needless to say, I was disappointed in the religious turn it took at the end. It was a good quick read, but a bit of a letdown. "
— Kelly, 1/13/2014 -
" Was amazing! Really teraches you about using your life wisely and help people and do things...... because you may not get a chance to in the end "
— V, 12/28/2013 -
" The pacing in this book was great. It's a very interesting read and very hard to put down. The characters are a bit religious but not to the point of preachy. "
— Chesca, 12/25/2013 -
" Good book - time travel & history all in one book! "
— Beth, 11/26/2013 -
" Bloor is a great author. I really liked this one, too. "
— Samira, 11/26/2013 -
" This is a surprisingly great little book. Definitely worth a read. "
— Casey, 11/11/2013 -
" Middle School Virginia Reader's Choice 09-10 "
— Christine, 10/26/2013 -
" It was a book that I would never have picked up. a friend told me it was a great book. I didn't think it was that great. It's a easy read but I knew how it was going to end. "
— Amber, 6/23/2013 -
" Interesting enough, but lacking spark. One of those books that illustrates how difficult putting together a novel must be, but while this one it good, it shows that it's not easy. It lacks subtlety. "
— Christie, 5/25/2013 -
" Emotionally real and unusually spiritual for a mainstream middle-grade/YA novel. Thoughtful & unapologetic. Good character development. The historical part was interesting, too. Thanks, Rose! "
— Wendy, 4/29/2013 -
" Pretty good but not great. Good for the 13 and under crowd. "
— Ting, 12/21/2012 -
" A fun mashup historical fiction/myster/sci-fi. "
— Danette, 11/8/2012 -
" I am still in the middle of this book- pretty fun and historical read. "
— Marie, 10/25/2012 -
" This was a mystical, suspenceful story about time travel. Martin gets a Phelico 20 Delux radio that takes him back to the World War II "
— Kojin, 9/30/2012 -
" i think its pretty good im only on the first chapter but it looked very good so now im reading it "
— Madison, 4/29/2012 -
" Weird, religious, strange, trippy, and amazing! "
— Ali, 5/25/2011 -
" Fantastic YA novel about redemption, faith and the ever present bildungsroman genre. "
— Erin, 5/12/2011 -
" A book about things that matter, with a time travel twist. Mid-grade. Worth reading. "
— Bobbi, 2/26/2011 -
" Best book I have ever read! "
— Mary, 1/12/2011 -
" This is a really fun read. A bit religious, but a really good read aloud for fifth grade. "
— Todd, 10/29/2010 -
" This book was very interesting. I wasn't quite sure how to classify it, a bit of time travel/ghosts thrown in for good measure. "
— Jess, 7/13/2010 -
" Interesting enough, but lacking spark. One of those books that illustrates how difficult putting together a novel must be, but while this one it good, it shows that it's not easy. It lacks subtlety. "
— Christie, 6/18/2010 -
" A very interesting time travel book with an attack upon social elitism. "
— Kyle, 6/4/2010 -
" This was an incredibly touching book of a boy who time travels to London during the Blitz, and in so doing changes his life and that of his father. I loved the writing, the characters, and the history. "
— Heidi, 4/8/2010 -
" Can a World War II radio that Martin Conway's grandmother left him when she died really be luring the teenager back in time to war-torn 1940's London? And why? "
— Newport, 4/8/2010
About Edward Bloor
Edward Bloor is the author of the celebrated novel Tangerine, which was an ALA Top Ten Best Book for Young Adults, a Horn Book Fanfare Selection, and a Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book.
About Robertson Dean
Robertson Dean has played leading roles on and off Broadway and at dozens of regional theaters throughout the country. He has a BA from Tufts University and an MFA from Yale. His audiobook narration has garnered ten AudioFile Earphones Awards. He now lives in Los Angeles, where he works in film and television in addition to narrating.