This was a fun audio. While the book was not showered with glowing reviews, I really enjoyed the story, especially as it is great fantasy for 3-5 grades, which can be a hard age for good literature. Kids LOVE the Magic Treehouse books, and this is a perfect next step, blending mysterious magic and time travel (Magic Treehouse) with the special appeal of miniaturization (The Borrowers), and the secrets of a museum (From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler). Even better: the miniatures and museum in question are real: the setting is the Thorne Rooms of the Art Institute of Chicago (http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/thorne).
One criticism of the book is that the main characters -- 6th grade best friends Jack and Ruthie -- do not act their age. While this may be true, that's part of what makes the book so appropriate for, say, 3rd graders. It also adds something of an old-fashioned vibe to the book. Jack and Ruthie discover a magic key that allows them to shrink down to miniature size so that they can go in the Thorne Rooms. The two friends contrive to spend the night in the museum, exploring the rooms, and examining the artifacts inside. They discover that the windows and doors -- and the realistically painted scenes outside -- are actually real, so they are able to visit French Revolution-era Paris and Salem Witch Trials-era Massachusetts. They also discover that they are not the first magically miniaturized visitors to the Thorne Rooms, and that previous visitors may have left behind important treasures. A fun, light read for younger readers that also explores historical time periods -- again, a next step for Magic Treehouse lovers.
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