The four children return to Narnia, but don't even recognize it at first because it has changed so much. They slowly discover that time is different in Narnia from their own world and that hundreds of years have past. Narnia is now ruled by a wicked man who has no right to the throne. Their adventures involve meeting the rightful heir and raising up "Old Narnia" behind him.

The author puts you right in middle of a thrilling adventure; made more mysterious because children now are looking upon their previous adventures as "ancient history". For my oldest daughter, reading this in early grade school kindled an interest in history and a reverence for "old things" that has remained quite strong years later.

Eustace Scrubb and a new character, Jill, return to Narnia to save a young prince from his evil captors. Early in the story is a small piece that almost haunts me (in a good way - like something that has become imbedded in my conscience), even as an adult. Because Eustace fails to greet an "old friend" much good that could have happened, is lost, and much work must be done before achieving his mission. The truths that underlie these sorts of details in this entire series are really wonderful.

Back to the plot... the young prince is being held captive, by flattery and brainwashing in an underground kingdom, out of the light of the sun. As with other books in this series, there is a fascinating meld of themes from classical literature and Christian virtues and ideas. This one in particular is reminiscent of Plato's "Cave Analogy". The allegory and adventure are both very strong as the two children and some interesting Narnia natives help to overthrow this evil kingdom.

Focus on the Family has produced an audio version of all of the Narnia books ( Available on CD or audio cassette). The stories are elegantly introduced by Douglas Grisham, stepson of C.S. Lewis. Mr. Grisham draws listeners into the story by recounting his personal experiences with C.S. Lewis ("or 'Jack' as he liked to be called"). Thus far, three books have been reproduced- The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, The Magician's Nephew, and The Horse and His Boy.

Each story, although abridged, is masterfully told. The characters are well-formed and the sound effects are terrific. Having read all of the Narnia series aloud, and loved them, our family had very high expectations. The audio version of these classics fully lived up to our expectations.

Each book is approximately two hours [or more] of listening time. The audio versions of the Narnia books are an excellent purchase!

This is a nice little adventure story that centers on Xan, a peasant boy who loses his family and his memory when raiders attack and burn his village. Although the beginning is rather over-the-top, the story does hit its stride after the first few chapters and the remainder of the book is much smoother. Several thematic elements add to the interest, including the lived faith of the Benedictine monks who rescue the boy. The author has created an interesting plot with a clever twist or two so that the story works out positively without being too obvious. I liked the fact that the good characters are genuinely human and good, especially Xan, who is smart as well as virtuous. I especially appreciated Xan's respectful attitude and chivalrous (in the best sense) behavior toward Lucy, a student at the nearby convent. Although it is set in the 12th century and offers some insights into life at that time, I would not consider it "historical fiction" as the details are somewhat random and sometimes inaccurate. It's a lot more like a Hardy Boys book, only with a 12th century setting. A quick, fun read for ages 10+.