Stoneheart

The Stoneheart Trilogy, Book One

By: Charlie Fletcher

Narrated by: Jim Dale

Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

A city has many lives and layers. London has more than most. Not all the layers are underground, and not all the lives belong to the living. A 12-year-old boy named George Chapman is about to find this out the hard way. On a school trip he's punished for something he didn't do. In a tiny act of rebellion, he lashes out at a small carving on the wall - unexpectedly breaking it off. And then something horrible does happen: a stone pterodactyl unpeels form the wall and starts chasing him. George is already running before his mind starts trying to tell him that this is impossible!

©2010 Charlie Fletcher (P)2010 Scholastic Audio

Great book and Jim Dale awesomeness

My 12 yo son and I listen to books on our drive to his school in the morning. Over the last few years we have completed a number of series. This book did not disappoint.
We both LOVE the skill Jim Dale is gifted with, helping to transport us into the story. We laughed, we cried, we felt companionship with the characters.
We can’t wait to start the second book!

A Scary Fate for George and Edie

Would you consider the audio edition of Stoneheart to be better than the print version?

Yes, because Jim Dale's reading is brilliant.

What other book might you compare Stoneheart to and why?

It's a bit like Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke and also like Magic Thief by Sarah Prineas. It's much more frightening that Dragon Rider with all the details of war and fighting. Magic Thief also is super scary, but contains more details about magic.

What does Jim Dale bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Different voice to every character.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When George realized his loyalty to Edie

Any additional comments?

I love this book. I could not stop listening to it. I'm a ten-year old boy that loves fantasy and science fiction, and I thought this book was amazing.

Listening a second time through! Very enjoyable!

I'll admit that the Stoneheart trilogy is nowhere near my typical preferred genre of period mysteries by masters such as Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers. But after being completely captivated by Jim Dale's narration of the Harry Potter series, I took a chance on the three books in the Stoneheart trilogy. Honestly, Jim Dale could read me the instructions to my microwave and I'd be hanging on every word. He's in a class by himself when it comes to interpreting the material and I'm amazed by his versatility. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed all three of the books in this series. The storyline was entertaining and the books are well-written with engaging characters. And Jim Dale is again dazzling in his interpretation of the stores. I'm listening to all three books a second time, as I'm sure I'll catch a few more details on the second pass.

Love the series of these books

What other book might you compare Stoneheart to and why?

Similar to Harry Potter in its approach to a series.

Have you listened to any of Jim Dale’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

JIm Dale is awesome and I picked this trilogy because of his performance on the Harry Potter books. He just does an amazing job and I will search him out again.

entertaining listen and Jim Dale is fantastic

entertaining listen and Jim Dale is fantastic as always. I'll continue to listen to the series.

Pulls you in from the first paragraph.

Really enjoyed the story. The characters are rich with depth. The narration by Jim Dale is fantastic. He brings each character to life with its own unique voice. Highly recommend this book.

Incredible story!

This book kept my interest from beginning to end, and the narration was outstanding! I will definitely check out the sequels. :)

So worth the credit!!!

Would you listen to Stoneheart again? Why?

Yes! As soon as I finished the series I started at the beginning again. Like many others, I took a chance on this book because Jim Dale narrated it. The beginning was a little slow but I stuck it out and am so glad I did. Many details that seem innocuous at first slowly creates a delicate web throughout the series that, in the end, captures you unaware. I really felt for George as a preteen who has very little self esteem and is bullied by his peers. Throughout the series, his maturity is slowly cultivated as he learns some of the most important lessons in life about what is truly important and what is not.

This may not be a series for younger children without an adult to share it with as some of George's rollercoaster ride will take him to some not so nice places and not so nice villains at times. I think adults will be thoroughly captured by layers and nuances that kids won't understand, but does not detract from their own enjoyment and understanding, making this series a rich tale for the entire family.

Stoneheart begins George's journey with a cast of characters you will root for and feel for as the story unfolds. George is desperately unhappy. His father is dead, he feels friendless and is unfairly treated by even the adults in his life. He is unprepared for becoming a friend as well as having friends, but is eventually taught the value of and cost of both.

After breaking off a small piece of stone from the outside wall of the museum his class is visiting for the day, (while being unfairly punished by his teacher for something he didn't do) George is suddenly thrust into another reality that parallels his London world. His action has consequences, one of which is his ability to see, and therefor be hurt by, things such as a stone pterodactyl that comes to life from the side of the museum, and then is saved by a statue that comes to his temporary rescue.

His journey to try to fix what he has broken and get back to his 'normal' world is a wonderful ride of ups and downs that kept me riveted non-stop after a very slow start to the story. I am so glad I stuck with it.The second pass for me was just as enjoyable as the first even though I knew how the story ended, because I noticed many threads of details I had missed making quite a few 'ah-ha' moments.

What other book might you compare Stoneheart to and why?

Although everyone in my family is a prolific reader and I have read many books with my children as they grew up, I can't think of any single book that is like Stoneheart. It is thoroughly unique. Definitely something to share with the kids and is just as (or maybe even more) enjoyable for adults. I think it's lessons are a little more gritty and realistic but no less enjoyable than Harry Potter, Percy Jackson or Lord of the Rings. It has earned a place of permanence in my library of keepers.

Which scene was your favorite?

Wow. That's a hard one. Although the first half of the book was hard for me to get into, I have to admit that one of the most memorable scenes was when Gunnar saves George in the beginning.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I had to laugh at Dictionary and felt sad at the scene in which George sees his father for the last time.

Any additional comments?

I adore Jim Dale and can not imagine reading the print version after listening to his narration without hearing his voice in my head! He truly brought these characters to life and kept my finger off the stop button in the beginning. He has an amazing and rare talent for the characterization of voices. I didn't really get sucked into this story until the second half but once I did, it felt like it was one heck of a ride I did not want to get off of! Give the entire book (and series) a try. It was more than worth the credits I paid!

Jim Dale a master

I always love his reads from Harry Potter to the night circus, now this . the book was well written but probably not my exact cup of tea.

Jim Dale is the best!

What made the experience of listening to Stoneheart the most enjoyable?

I really liked his sound effects and accents!

What did you like best about this story?

I liked how all the statues come to life and the how Fletcher ties London, an actual city, into his story! I like that Fletcher makes Edie a tough girl, or so she likes to think, but she is actually fragile. George is described as someone fragile but is truly brave. It ends a cliff hanger though!

What about Jim Dale’s performance did you like?

I have love Jim Dale (I was hooked after hearing HP)! He is truly amazing! The narration was excellent. I will hear anything this man narrates!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

My favorite character was The Gunner and how he stays calm cool and collected (like a statue) even after he saves the George.

Any additional comments?

Just simply a good listen!