Nancy Janes

My original The Boy Who Walked A Way audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.

The Boy Who Walked A Way is set in the future where peace is both valued and carefully monitored. As is the case with most societies, greed for power made war imminent. Jal Valhyn is a young man whose parents are conscripted into the war efforts leave him behind in the care of his Uncle. After a short time, his uncle disappears due to his job with the war and the war creeps closer and closer to home. Jal finds himself alone one night and sets out to search for his uncle and parents. His fear and helplessness leads him to an invisible mystical being who offers him comfort. Sammie and Bea, with orders from the mystical being, set out to deliver Jal to his new home providing him with safety and food while teaching him about his new home. It is through fab-u-tales (combination of fables and tales or parables) that Sammie and Bea begin Jal’s teachings that there is more to this world than material belongings and that one must make sacrifices.

Jal is a smart boy who matures through his lessons realizing that his faith is sustaining him and his friends as well as making life more peaceful. He learns through the fab-u-tales to give thanks for that which is provided whether he sees the givers or not, he learns that patience, observation and love are important.

Well written with strong characters that are fully developed. It is a calming and simple story that does not get in the way of the message. With each new friend Jal meets or hears a story about, he discovers that each has a unique story about their transition into this new peace filled world. It is a message that everyone needs on faith, both in themselves and others as well as the value of vanquishing adversity within their own journey of self-discovery. Although the stories are short, they are meaningful.

Nancy Janes takes complex issues and breaks them down making them applicable to everyone. She further recognizes that issues for children are much larger, emotionally worse and overwhelming thus providing unique insight and reminders of what we as adults went through as children. A unique reading with touching moments and written in a calming style.

Janes has given her readers a piece of writing that strengthens faith without assuming or forcing any specific religious beliefs on anyone. Further, she provides a wonderful opportunity to read, dwell on the writing and arrive on one’s own path of self-discovery.

I loved this book – there was no violence, no foul language or sexual insinuations of any kind. This is one of those rare finds in which someone can read it for fantasy, for comfort, or for those few moments where you wish to reconnect with your inner child.

The narrator, Mary Jane Conlon was delightful. She spoke softly but clearly; her reading became the personality of the story – calm and serene. I feel Conlon gave the story life with her talented skills of narration and voices. I cannot imagine anyone else doing such a fantastic job bringing the story to life as she did - you could feel the confusion, sense of loss, peace and so much more.

I experienced no issues or problems with the production of the audio book.

Audiobook was provided for review by the author.… (mehr)