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The Witch's Boy Audiobook
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Publisher Description
When Ned and his identical twin brother tumble from their raft into a raging, bewitched river, only Ned survives. Villagers are convinced the wrong boy lived. Sure enough, Ned grows up weak and slow, and stays as much as possible within the safe boundaries of his family's cottage and yard. But when a Bandit King comes to steal the magic that Ned's mother, a witch, is meant to protect, it's Ned who safeguards the magic and summons the strength to protect his family and community. In the meantime, in another kingdom across the forest that borders Ned's village, lives the resourceful and pragmatic daughter of the Bandit King, who is haunted by her mother's last words to her: “The wrong boy will save your life and you will save his.” When Ainé's and Ned's paths inevitably cross, they must learn to trust each other and make their way through the woods together to return the magic to its resting place and stop a war that is about to boil over.
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“In a story of an unexpected hero, a thief’s daughter, and some very trickymagic, Barnhill weaves a powerful narrative about the small tragedies thathappen when parents fail their children, even with the best intentions…Barnhillmakes bold character choices: Ned is soft, but never weak, while Áine is tough,prickly, yet sympathetic. Peripheral adults are well fleshed out, from Ned’sfather, devastated by the loss of one child and afraid to show his love for theother, to a sensible queen who knows the value of a good witch. Barnhill elegantlyjoins the story’s diverse threads in a complex tale whose poignancy never turnssentimental.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Quotes
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“Barnhill…creates an absorbing world of kingdoms and prophecies in which transformation comes through language and through courage and self-awareness as well…Áine, with her sharp survival skills and fearless navigation of the forest, is a cunning and strong figure unlike any typical damsel in distress. She is sure to make young girls aspire to more than the dainty and pretty female image of older fairy tales. The Witch’s Boy may be yet another children’s novel about magic, but it should open young readers’ eyes to something that is all around them in the very world we live in: the magic of words.”
— New York Times -
“[Barnhill] is an eloquent writer who spins beautiful lines…This spellbinding fantasy begs for a cozy chair, a stash of Halloween candy, and several hours of uninterrupted reading time.”
— Washington Post -
“In [this] gorgeously written and fast-paced adventure through forest and flood, bandits and courtiers, wolves and queens and witches, the boy and the girl must stop a war, restore magic to its rightful place, and find their own places in a world they’ve helped to make bigger. Barnhill is a fantasist on the order of Neil Gaiman, and this story feels fully inhabited.”
— Minneapolis Star Tribune -
“Kelly Barnhill is deft at crafting strong characters, and this classic fairy tale is filled with otherworldly beasties and plenty of magic.”
— San Antonio Express-News -
“The boy’s growing confidence and ability to wield and protect his mother’s magic adds elements of a classic origin-quest tale to a story that’s already brimming with a well-drawn, colorful supporting cast, a strong sense of place, and an enchanted forest with a personality to rival some of the best depictions of magical woods.”
— School Library Journal (starred review) -
“Barnhill skillfully interweaves the stories of Ned, Áine, Sister Witch, and the stones, along with an intriguing group of secondary characters. The third-person narration switches perspective smoothly, and it’s all related in a precise, flowing prose that easily places readers into the fantastic setting and catches them up in the story. The classic fantasy elements are all there, richly reimagined, with a vivid setting, a page-turning adventure of a plot, and compelling, timeless themes.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review) -
“The characters are vivid and well developed, despite their basis in fairytale archetypes. The writing is beautiful and lyrical but keeps pace with an action-packed story. Powerful themes of grief, redemption, forgiveness, sacrifice, and generosity are all present. Recommend this title to those who like retellings and strong, narrative fantasy.”
— VOYA -
“While the story moves slowly at times, Ned and Áine’s adventures will appeal to fans of middle-grade fantasy, and Lister’s narration adds to the magical feel of the story.”
— AudioFile
Awards
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A Publishers Weekly Pick of the Week, September 2014
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About Kelly Barnhill
Kelly Barnhill is the author of four novels, including The Girl Who Drank the Moon, winner of the 2017 John Newbery Medal for the year’s most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. She is also the winner of the World Fantasy Award, the Parents’ Choice Gold Award, and the Texas Library Association Bluebonnet Award and has been a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award, the NCTE Charlotte Huck Award, the SFWA Andre Norton Award, and the PEN/USA literary prize.
About Ralph Lister
Ralph Lister is an actor, voice actor, and AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator. He spent fifteen years in London theater before moving to the United States to focus on film and television. He has held numerous roles in Shakespeare and modern dramas, as well as starring roles in independent films. His voice and character work can be heard in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearland 13 Going On 30. He lives in Los Angeles.