The Sixty-Eight Rooms

By: Marianne Malone

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

Almost everybody who has grown up in Chicago knows about the Thorne Rooms. Housed in the Children’s Galleries of the Chicago Art Institute, they are a collection of 68 exquisitely crafted miniature rooms made in the 1930s by Mrs. James Ward Thorne. Each of the 68 rooms is designed in the style of a different historic period, and every detail is perfect, from the knobs on the doors to the candles in the candlesticks. Some might even say, the rooms are magic.

Imagine—what if you discovered a key that allowed you to shrink so that you were small enough to sneak inside and explore the rooms’ secrets? What if you discovered that others had done so before you? And that someone had left something important behind?

Fans of Chasing Vermeer, The Doll People, and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler will be swept up in the magic of this exciting art adventure!

Great for family

My 8yo son loved this and wanted me to listen with him. Very enjoyable. We now have another reason to visit Chicago so we can explore the Thorne rooms. He has requested the sequel.

I want to go to Chicago!

This work of fiction was a fun listen. I didn't know about the exhibit prior to listening. What a visionary Mrs. James Ward Thorne was. I would think it would not be possible to
recreate due to cost of labor. Marianne Marolne did an excellent writing and Cassandra Campbell's voice was appealing. I think Tweens would really enjoy it. So didI!

Captivating

Any additional comments?

What a wonderful and original story. A little on the predictable side but terrifically so. Sent me to the internet daily to see the rooms and finally I had to order the catalogue from the museum.

Great Family Listen

Where does The Sixty-Eight Rooms rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This story kept my entire family enthralled on our road trip this summer. Traveling home from vacation can be a chore but my children begged us to not stop so we could continue to listen.

Good but not great

Any additional comments?

This audiobook was good. I felt like it took a long time to set the stage up for the actual story to begin, which made it drag on in places. Once it finally began I found myself enjoying it very much.The narration was great- voice actor was strong. It's a very easy-going tale, not scary, but very intriguing. Not a lot of "action" in this book.
Parents please note that this book DOES have a few swear words, and a few others parts where editing for children is advisable.
Overall, I recommend this book. :)