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Audiobooks > Juvenile Fiction >  Social Issues > The Wonder of Charlie Anne

Download The Wonder of Charlie Anne Audiobook

Extended Audio Sample The Wonder of Charlie Anne Audiobook, by Kimberly Fusco Click for printable size audiobook cover
3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 3.00 (211 ratings) (rate this audio book) Author: Kimberly Fusco, Kimberly Newton Fusco Narrator: Ann Marie Lee Publisher: Penguin Random House Format: Unabridged Audiobook Delivery: Instant Download Audio Length: Release Date: August 2010 ISBN: 9780307711045
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Charlie Anne is devastated when her father must go north to build roads after the Depression hits. She and her siblings are left with their rigid cousin, Mirabel, and a farm full of chores. The only solace Charlie Anne finds is by the river, where the memory of her mother is strongest.
 
Then her neighbor Old Mr. Jolly brings home a new wife, Rosalyn, who shows up in pants—pants!—the color of red peppers. With her arrives Phoebe, a young African American girl who has also lost her mother. Phoebe is smart and fun and the perfect antidote to Charlie Anne's lonely days. The girls soon forge a friendship and learn from each other in amazing ways.
 
But when hatred turns their town ugly, it's almost more than they can bear. Now it's up to Charlie Anne and Phoebe to prove that our hearts are always able to expand.


From the Hardcover edition. Download and start listening now!

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Quotes & Awards

  • Charlie Anne makes use of her "most terrible mad look" with some frequency, but she’s most furious about her papa’s heading north from Massachusetts to build roads for Roosevelt’s New Deal, abandoning family and farm to the joyless clutches of her late mother’s cousin Mirabel. When not busy baking hard-times vinegar pies (almost like lemon!) or mucking out the privy, Charlie Anne has a lovely, supernatural way of interacting with the world; her recently buried mother, the river, the molasses-eyed cows and even the clothesline communicate with her regularly. Fusco’s mellifluous style often sounds like singing: "Go do this, the new mama tells me, and I do it, just because." Two conflicts loom largest: dyslexic Charlie Anne’s battle with "jumbled letters" and her controversial friendship with an African-American girl who moves into the all-white community and stirs up its "backwater" hatred. Good humor, kindness and courage triumph in this warm, richly nuanced novel that cheers the heart like a song sweetly sung. (Fiction. 9-13) - Kirkus Reviews, starred review
  • Each character is distinct and adds flavor, but it’s Charlie Anne’s voice that resonates as she confronts both the hardships and unfairness of life, yet finds ways to change things for the better. School Library Journal, starred review

Listener Opinions

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Chelsea | 2/18/2014

    " I'm kinda tired of plucky, independent heroines in historical novels showing that girls can be anything despite societal pressures to the contrary. But I admit I liked Charlie Anne. And I liked the complexities of a Depression era community dealing with socio-economic and racial divides, and the stresses that forced people to be tougher than they normally would. It's a feel-good story. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Verna Seal | 2/17/2014

    " Usually the second book I read by the same author does not quite live up to what I expect. However this book was just as amazing at the other. Another book that tackles issues in such a beautiful, simple and magical way. LOVED IT! "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Jennifer | 2/9/2014

    " I really liked Charlie Anne. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Dominque | 12/28/2013

    " I was slow in the beginning turned into a really good read! "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Yekta | 12/27/2013

    " This book was very good and had sad and exciting parts. I liked his the author explains phoebe in the book. Everyone ignores her and some people stare at her, but Charlie Ann sees it in a different way "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Jones | 12/23/2013

    " I didn't think I would like this book, but I loved it. Charlie Ann's voice is very funny and spirited. I love her spunk and courage. At times I wanted to jump in the book and give the other characters a piece of my mind. I can see why this was a nutmeg nominee!! "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Cheryl | 11/26/2013

    " This book is beautifully written, with a savory evocative imaginative heartfelt protaganist.Charlie Anne really is a wonder. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Jamie | 11/18/2013

    " Great book! Reminded me of Belle Teal by Ann Martin. Charlie Anne is a strong girl character who does not conform to traditional "girl roles" during the 1930's. "

  • 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Carolyn Mcelravy | 9/19/2013

    " Slow moving account of a young girl coming to terms with many changes in her life. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Sarah | 9/17/2013

    " really great writing style, pulled me right in.. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Kelly | 8/5/2013

    " Another beautiful book by Kim. Charlie Anne's voice is poetic and authentic "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Molly | 7/22/2013

    " My gosh is a great book! What a find! It sounded good at the library so I grabbed it. It somehow entwined small farmtown life during the Great Depression, racism, loss of a parent, dyslexic issues, and a spitfire fierce girl full of love into one well done novel. Love it. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens | 4/10/2013

    " So so so good. Just read it, you won't be sorry. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Aimee Owen | 3/1/2013

    " I loved this story about strong-headed tomboy Charlie Ann and her family and town's struggles during the depression. What a wonderful, colorful character and such a unique voice! "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Martha | 2/27/2013

    " historical fiction. This is a good picture of small-town depression-era prejudiced town and how the families cope. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Mary Liquori | 11/8/2012

    " Big fan of historical fiction - LOVED Esperanza Rising - this has some of those same period qualities... Likeable characters... "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Nancy | 9/7/2012

    " I enjoyed this hf book set in the depression era. It is well written and while the characters are engaging I find the situations to be a bit contrived. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Carrie | 5/14/2012

    " A Nutmeg book, it took awhile to get into, but then it was heartwarming. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Tweller83 | 5/13/2012

    " This book was ok. I don't love historical fiction but it is not a bad book. Not a lot of action but ok. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Heather | 1/8/2012

    " Mirabel and Ivy both had me saying a lot of mad things in my mind. I hope Mirabel was just a cranky old maid, but I am certainly glad that expectations for girls in this country have changed! I did like how Charlie Anne changed, too, and began to see a few good things about Mirabel. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Kassie | 4/29/2011

    " Very good book....lots of lessons to be learned....good for the Rappin' Readers' Book Club. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Heather | 4/12/2011

    " I think this would have been a four star book if I had read it rather than listened to it. It had all the makings of a book that I would love, but the narrator did not seem like a good match for Charlie Anne.

    Recommended for 4th grade and up "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Jamie | 4/4/2011

    " Great book! Reminded me of Belle Teal by Ann Martin. Charlie Anne is a strong girl character who does not conform to traditional "girl roles" during the 1930's. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Molly | 3/23/2011

    " My gosh is a great book! What a find! It sounded good at the library so I grabbed it. It somehow entwined small farmtown life during the Great Depression, racism, loss of a parent, dyslexic issues, and a spitfire fierce girl full of love into one well done novel. Love it. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Dorinda | 3/14/2011

    " I think this gives a teenager an idea what it might be like for a family or for a child to grow up in the Great Depression. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Dominque | 3/3/2011

    " I was slow in the beginning turned into a really good read! "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Beth | 2/20/2011

    " Great for junior high girls! "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens | 2/8/2011

    " So so so good. Just read it, you won't be sorry. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Martha | 12/5/2010

    " historical fiction. This is a good picture of small-town depression-era prejudiced town and how the families cope. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Kelly | 12/1/2010

    " Another beautiful book by Kim. Charlie Anne's voice is poetic and authentic "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Julieanndixon | 11/16/2010

    " I love, love, love this book. Set in the Depression, Charlie Anne has just lost her mother. Her father leaves the family with a stern cousin so he can work on building roads to send money home to the farm. "

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About the Author

Kimberly Newton Fusco is the award-winning author of Tending to Grace and The Wonder of Charlie Anne. Before becoming a novelist, Ms. Fusco was reporter and editor for the Worcester (Massachusetts) Telegram & Gazette. She is a graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Ms. Fusco lives in Foster, Rhode Island, with her husband and their four children.

About the Narrator

Ann Marie Lee is a seven-time winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award for narration. She is a Los Angeles–based actress with television credits that include ER, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Nip/Tuck. Her stage performances for Broadway National Tours and regional theater include Peter Pan, As You Like It, Heartbreak House, and The Cherry Orchard.

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