The Exiles [AUDIOBOOK] [UNABRIDGED] (Audio Cassette)

by Hilary McKay (Author), Sophie Aldred (Reader)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
The four Conroy girls are more than a little disgruntled to learn that instead of their receiving a share of their parents' newly acquired inheritance, the entire 5000 will be spent fixing the house. To add insult to injury, while the renovation is taking place, Ruth, Naomi, Rachel and Phoebe are "exiled" to the country to stay with their no-nonsense grandmother. In Cumbria, the sisters decide to spend their days buried behind books, but "Big Grandma" has other plans for them: she believes in exercise, and puts forth an endless supply of chores to fill their every waking moment. Like the writings of Beverly Cleary and Lois Lowry, this warmhearted first novel provides an ample supply of chuckles. Readers will be tickled by the children's attempts to evade their canny grandparent and will be touched by the affection that blossoms between generations despite initial clashes of wills. In spite of themselves, the Conroy girls begin to view "Big Grandma" in a more compassionate light while discovering something new about their own potential. Ages 9-12.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8-British actress Sophie Aldred brings to life the four eccentric Conroy sisters of Hilary McKay's (Saffey's Angel) The Exiles (McElderry Books, 1992) in this delightful audio recording. Naomie, Ruth, Rachel, and Phoebe are "exiled" to their "Big Grandma's" house in the country for the summer while their parents are having work done on the house. The girls' feelings of disappointment and dismay at being shipped off to stay with their stern and terrifying grandmother are compounded once they discover that Grandma has no books-except cookbooks and The Complete Works of Shakespeare-and that they are expected to entertain themselves outdoors. Their bizarre imaginations serve them well in finding activities such as fishing in a bucket, attempting to swim to the Isle of Man, and baiting badgers. Listening to the sisters bicker with each other, to their interactions with other members of the small town (who have been warned of the girls' arrival), and to their letters home, you will feel like a fly on the wall of one of the funniest summer vacations ever. Aldred's voice gives personality to each of the characters, especially each sister, and sets the tone for this quirky novel. Some children may not be familiar with all of the British terms in the text, but they can be understood in context. This audiobook is a quality choice for school and public libraries.
Casey Rondini, Westerly Public Library, RI
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Chivers Audio Books; Unabridged edition (March 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0754052931
• ISBN-13: 978-0754052937
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,828,018 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #9 in

  Books > Teens > Authors, A-Z > ( M ) > McKay, Hilary

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really funny!, December 12, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Exiles (Little Women for Today's Readers) (Paperback)

This hilarious book is great for cheering anyone up. Ruth, Naomi, Rachel and Phoebe are the best characters in any book I have read. I have read The Exiles, The Exiles at Home and The Exiles in Love over and over again. I recommend this book to anyone who anyone with a sense of humour and fun, as it's one the most enjoyable boos I have ever read.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant!, March 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Exiles (Hardcover)

This is probably one of my favourite books and I've read it over and over again. It was really, really funny - especially Rachel, who's my favourite character. The Exiles at Home was also excellent! I just hope that Hilary McKay writes lots more stories about the Conroy girls!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Four wacky sisters exiled to an even wackier Grandma survive, September 26, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Exiles (Hardcover)

The four Conroy sisters are all bright, silly, oblivious, friendly, impatient, in other words, they're people. Like the people we really know, the girls are upset when their parents decided to pack them off to their fearsome Big Grandma after an unexpected financial windfall allows their parents to improve the home. It's not so much their eccentric grandma the girls object to, its the unfairness of their parenets in not sharing the money! Sent to the northern English coast they manage to survive their vacation without the emotional traumas required of most current childrens books. There is plenty of adventure with fire, water, falls, the locals and the continuing search for reading material. Big Grandma considers her granddaughters to be far too self-centered and only permits them to bring two books a piece to her home. The continuing battle of wills provides amusement and horror to those who won't consider going out-of-town without three novels and a magazine.