Patty Gayle and the Legend of Kingsley

By: Cynthia P. Willow

Narrated by: Gail Shalan

Patty Gayle and the Legend of Kingsley is a fantasy set in Kingsley Lake, Florida, in 1960. It's the journey of Patty Gayle, a twelve-year-old awkward girl, who doesn't think she has much purpose in life until she is given a key that unlocks possibilities of which she could only dream. The key leads her on an adventure to a magical land that she thought only existed in her grandmother's stories. While on her quest, Patty Gayle realizes some of her fantasies, but must strengthen her faith in God, gain confidence in herself, overcome her own fears and emotions, and defeat a sinister sorcerer before the inhabitants of Kingsley can be saved.

©2012 Cynthia P. Willow (P)2013 Cynthia P. Willow

very good

This is the first time I've read or listened to this kind of story. I enjoyed it very much, if you like books that are about mistical places it's a must read. the narration was wonderful. now I have to get book 2

Magical with a Message

Where does Patty Gayle and the Legend of Kingsley rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

TOP OF THE LINE

What was one of the most memorable moments of Patty Gayle and the Legend of Kingsley?

Patty Gayle's reaction to losing her grandmother and finding the key

Which scene was your favorite?

Patty Gayle finding where the key goes

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me laugh and cry with real human reactions to adventure and to the loss of a loved one

Any additional comments?

This was an adventure with a wonderful message of love and coming of age. I recommend this book for anyone who loves fantasy and adventure of any age. The narration was spot on and enjoyable.

Excellent book for girls

Would you consider the audio edition of Patty Gayle and the Legend of Kingsley to be better than the print version?

My ten year old and I listened to this together. She loves it and fully understands and finds useful the lessons found here. She looks forward to further stories about Patty Gayle. Thank you for coming up with a modern story that teaches truths in C.S. Lewis fashion.

What other book might you compare Patty Gayle and the Legend of Kingsley to and why?

I compare this story to the Chronicles of Narnia because it is fantasy using allegory to present useful Truth to children.

What does Gail Shalan bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She does a great job with voices, bringing alive the story.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Faith comes by trial and doing, a girl's family legacy... it pays to know our history and heritage.

My kids haven't ever enjoyed an audiobook so much

If you could sum up Patty Gayle and the Legend of Kingsley in three words, what would they be?

fun, whimsical, entertaining

What did you like best about this story?

I think I liked that it was so accessible to my kids. Even my youngest followed the entire story, start to finish. We listen to tons of audiobooks, but my guys (all boys) have never gotten as excited about one as this. They were constantly asking what I thought would happen next. The plot isn't complicated, but I think they loved the fact that there was a typical, everyday girl going through such fantastic adventures.

Have you listened to any of Gail Shalan’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't listened to her before, but she had nice, clear dictation and didn't detract from the story with over-the-top dramatics.

Any additional comments?

This was my first book by Cynthia P Willow, but I had heard good things about her. I heartily recommend this book for any young audience who enjoys adventure.

Patty Gayle

What did you like best about this story?

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook by Cynthia Willow. Cynthia's description of both the characters and the world around them is vivid and will leave lasting picture. Patty is a believable character who wrestles with her situation and learns a great deal about what it means to have faith. I found this to be a fun read that all ages would enjoy.

A fantasy story with a lot of heart

If you could sum up Patty Gayle and the Legend of Kingsley in three words, what would they be?

Charming fantasy story

What other book might you compare Patty Gayle and the Legend of Kingsley to and why?

I would compare it with CS Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. Both stories involved humans from our world traveling to another world and becoming entangled in the struggles of the locals.

What does Gail Shalan bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She really made it feel as though you were being told the story, rather than just reading it, or listening to someone read it.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I don't tend to have extreme reactions... There were some sad parts, and I thought they were very well done.

Any additional comments?

In his book The Magician's Nephew, CS Lewis describes a sort of world between worlds where someone might travel from our world to Narnia or to any of a great number of alternate worlds. In Patty Gayle and the Legend of Kingsley I felt very much as though I was being transported to one of those places - one of those many worlds about which CS Lewis left us to wonder in vain.
In Patty Gayle and the Legend of Kingsley Cynthia P. Willow somehow manages to capture all the charm and all the heart of the Narnia series yet without stealing anything from CS Lewis besides perhaps inspiration.
For a fantasy story the book spent a good deal of time in our own world, and I was impressed as I read that I really didn't mind so much. The writing was so good that I didn't even notice - I was so caught up in the characters and their somewhat mundane struggles that I almost forgot I was reading a fantasy novel.
That said, I do wish I could have learned more about the world of Kingsley in the book, and I trust I will in the sequels. It is my opinion that a good book leaves you satisfied, but a great book leaves you wanting more...

thrilling encouraging and full of hope

I absolutely love this story of Patty Gayle. By the time I finished my own faith was increased exponentially and I cannot wait to read the next book