About the Author

Roderick Townley's first book about Sylvie, The Great Good Thing, was a Top-Ten Book Sense Pick, praised by Kirkus Reviews as "utterly winning...a book beloved from the first page." Its sequel, Into the Labyrinth, was hailed by the New York Times as "a hopping fine read." The present volume completes the Sylvie cycle.

Mr. Townley has also published the novel Sky, described by VOYA as "one hell of a book," as well as volumes of poetry, nonfiction, and literary criticism. He has two children, Jesse and Grace, and is married to author Wyatt Townley.

Reviews

James Howe I read the first sentence of "The Great Good Thing, " and it was love at first sight. Here is a stunningly original story, full of beautifully crafted words, ideas that crackle with intelligence, and characters who literally step off the pages and into the readers' minds and hearts. A timeless treasure for all ages.

Gr 4-6-Roderick Townley's story about a story (Atheneum, 2001) follows 12-year-old Princess Sylvie, the main character in "The Great Good Thing," a book which is read and loved by young Claire. Claire's grandmother had read and loved it long before and it creates a bond between them. When Claire's thoughtless brother sets the book on fire, the characters cross over into Claire's mind, but this existence proves perilous because the story starts to lose its shape and the characters to rust from disuse. Encouraged by "the girl" (Claire's grandmother as she was when she was a girl), Sylvie crosses into the mind of Lily, Claire's daughter, and through her the story is retold and published (40,000 copies), bringing new life to its characters. This is a clever concept that allows the author to make some strong statements about the "life" of a story, its characters, and its author as well as the interplay between readers and stories. Broadway actress Blair Brown reads beautifully, with just enough voice to distinguish and "give life" to each character, but avoids making a dramatic production of the whole. Her timing and expression are excellent, and her voice clear and pleasing. Fantasy lovers and children who enjoy such books as Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth will enjoy this audiobook.-Louise L. Sherman, formerly Anna C. Scott School, Leonia, NJ Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

James Howe I read the first sentence of "The Great Good Thing, " and it was love at first sight. Here is a stunningly original story, full of beautifully crafted words, ideas that crackle with intelligence, and characters who literally step off the pages and into the readers' minds and hearts. A timeless treasure for all ages.