A younger game’s afoot

NICK EICHER, HOST: Today is Wednesday, January 17th. Good morning! This is The World and Everything in It from listener-supported WORLD Radio. I’m Nick Eicher.

MARY REICHARD, HOST: And I’m Mary Reichard. Up next, stories for a snow day.

WORLD book reviewer Emily Whitten now with a book for families based on the adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle.

AUDIOBOOK: A new, wild feeling filled Arthur, crowding out his fear. This was not a bedtime story, or a page from Gulliver’s Travels. He could reach out and skim the clouds with his own fingers. He was flying - really flying!

EMILY WHITTEN: That’s James Meunier reading The Improbable Tales of Baskerville Hall. It’s Book One of a new mystery series for kids ages 8-12 written by Ali Standish. The main character is young Arthur Conan Doyle, and his life changes completely when he receives a letter of acceptance from Baskerville Hall. That’s a ­special school where gifted children can explore anything from boxing to coleopterology, or the study of beetles.

JAMES MEUNIER: [Ch 9] “At this school, innovation and creativity are rewarded. There are no clucking governesses or needling tutors to watch over your shoulders. We understand that risks must be taken in the service of knowledge. We expect you to take those risks.”

At Baskerville Hall, Arthur quickly makes friends and enemies. Sherlock Holmes fans will recognize some of the characters, like James or “Jimmie” Moriarty.

Eventually, James, Arthur, and a girl named Irene are invited to join a secret society called the Clover. While proving his loyalty to the Clover, Arthur uncovers a secret that threatens the existence of Baskerville itself.

MEUNIER: [Ch 8] Arthur was distracted by a movement he detected out of the corner of his eye. Barely visible through the trees on the edge of the grounds, someone sat astride a black horse. The rider, clad in a dark green cloak, was strangely stiff and still.

Standish’s writing here definitely entertains. Adventure-loving boys will enjoy the book’s ancient dinosaurs, knights in armor, and things that randomly explode. It’s also a great read aloud option because the whole family will appreciate the humor, like when one of the characters makes a pretend obituary for Arthur.

MEUNIER: [Ch 22] But…I’m not dead! he protested. And a lot of this stuff isn’t even true. I don’t have an Aunt Gertrude or a pet badger, and I definitely don’t feel passionately about chamber music.

Like some of the original Sherlock Holmes stories, there are allusions to the supernatural and some characters in the book talk about communicating with the dead. The author also slips into feminist ideas at times. But the story doesn’t take either theme too far. Overall, the book seems age-appropriate, even though one character does use a mild swear word.

Whether or not you're snowed in this week like my family, I hope The Improbable Tales of Baskerville Hall by Ali Standish might give you a reason to grab some hot cocoa, snuggle up with your family, and enjoy a story together–one that breathes new life into the beloved world of Sherlock Holmes.

MEUNIER: [Ch 21] For so many years, he had tried not to allow himself to dream. What use was it for a boy like him? But now, he had a chance to dream as big as he liked.

I’m Emily Whitten. Bekah McCallum contributed to this review.

WORLD Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programming is the audio record.