The Tell-Tale Start

Starred review from February 25, 2013
In a new twist on an old favorite, featuring 12-year-olds Edgar and Allen Poe, McAlpine gives us an entertaining and original work of YA fiction. Narrator Arte Johnson delivers a splendid reading that whisks listeners—both young and old—away to a world in which the mischievous twin descendants of the famous literary pioneer find themselves on the run from some very secretive operatives. Johnson’s delivery is stellar and his character interpretations colorful and endlessly creative. The narrator’s ability to grab listeners and lure them into this fantasy is a true treat, and his extensive vocal pallet is something to behold. Endlessly fun and ultimately very satisfying on every level, this recording is a must-have for both diehard Poe fans and those just discovering his work. Ages 8-12. A Viking hardcover.

December 3, 2012
McAlpine (Mystery Box) opens the Misadventures of Edgar and Allan Poe series by introducing the 12-year-old great-great-great-great-grandnephews of famed author Edgar Allan Poe. More than just identical twins, Edgar and Allan are literally of one mind (“Each always knew what the other was thinking, feeling, experiencing”). A mad professor is quite interested in harnessing the power of the boys’ mind meld (which is credited to “quantum entanglement” theory), and he creates an elaborate Wizard of Oz–related ruse to kidnap them. In establishing Edgar and Allan as orphaned mischievous geniuses with a connection to the macabre, the author lays some complex groundwork, including passages about what the twins don’t know and coded messages from Poe himself, delivered from the “great beyond.” This scene-setting slows the story’s initial progression, though the action eventually picks up, and Zup-pardi’s spindly b&w spot illustrations add to the overall creepy atmosphere. The light horror, snarky laughs, and gloom- and prank-loving protagonists should particularly appeal to fans of the Edgar and Ellen books and similar fare. Ages 8–12. Agent: Kelly Sonnack, Andrea Brown Literary Agency.