Inkspell by Anthea Bell, Cornelia Funke (2005, Unabridged, Audio Cassette)

Youngsters will love this labyrinthine, open-ended fantasy, which continues the story begun in Inkheart, Funke’s previous novel in which a book comes to life. Dustfinger, who can do magical things with fire, wants to return to his old world, a strange parallel universe that he can enter only if someone in our own “reads” him back into a story rewritten to accommodate him. When he finds someone who does just that, his abandoned apprentice Farid, aided by his modern-day 14-year-old friend, Meggie, goes off in search of him.

Welcome to an enchanted medieval world in which too many “readers” and “writers’ make for unpredictable twists and turns, and visitors struggle to set things right, sometimes at cross-purposes. The novel has a huge cast of memorable characters – old and new -- with a vast array of powers. It is crammed with action. Familiarity with Inkheart is not strictly necessary but is highly recommended. Brendan Fraser’s exceptional reading is energetic and creative. He not only gives each character a very distinct voice, but he also provides his own sound effects!