The Childgrove

By: John Goldsberry

Narrated by: John Corbin Goldsberry

“Time is not what you think it is.”

When John, a nine-year-old boy from 1966, hears his own voice whisper in his head, it ultimately leads to a psychotic break and the truth behind the visions in his mind. Meanwhile, Edward, another nine-year-old boy from 1914, is trapped by the tragic circumstances of his family’s secrets. Somehow, their lives are linked by tragedy, redemption, pain, and triumph in a 109-year-long journey that will take a toll on them both, teach them about a bond stronger than time, and change the future for so many others along the way.

This was my life, and these are my memories of it, real and imagined. Sometimes, the line between them gets so indistinct as to be meaningless. It is a ghost story set in the dying shadows of old St. Joseph, Missouri’s glory days, where no fences divided the airstrip lawns of imagination for children’s feet to tread.

The summer of 1966 would change me, and by fall, I would not be the same child. Adventure does that to you, and sometimes it leaves scars. The Childgrove is set against two eras of change in the Midwestern city of St. Joseph, MO, and the real people and events that linked them together. This audio edition, read by the author, who also composed the original score, combines immersive elements and historical recordings to heighten the drama of a story told in echoes that lead to startling secrets and an emotional conclusion.

Note: Although there is no sex or foul language, sensitive and younger listeners should be aware that this book deals with subjects like suicide, murder, depression, and mental illness. Discretion is advised.

©2020, 2021, 2022 John Corbin Goldsberry (P)2023 John Corbin Goldsberry

Engaging story

Loved the real references to St. Joe. The story had me rivited and immersed in John and Edwards connections and stories and the families they chose. I hated for it to end yet satisfied when it did.

The Childgrove

This was an extrordinary story of how our mind helps keep us safe.It had a few places where it lagged,but they were few. Narration by John Corbin Goldsberry was wonderfully done.

Suspense Filled Mystery with a Dash of Sci-Fi

Two boys, nine and ten years of age, each with their issues, become fast and true friends. Their friendship is tied to their issues and circumstances. Their friendship teaches them about life, growth, overcoming all odds, and more!
The author, John Goldsberry, crafts a complex yet intriguing story. Goldsberry projects the need to believe, trust, and have faith in oneself and others. Hse further stresses that things are not always as they seem and that our minds are complex providing us with ways to protect and heal ourselves. Although the storyline is complex, Goldsberry provides a clear path from beginning to end with his narrative detailed and deliberate.

John Corbin Goldsberry, also serves as the narrator. His delivery is deliberate with well-timed pauses. He projects the needed energy and suspense, further enhancing the narrative. He speaks clearly. This audiobook is done with a theatrical style peppered with music from the 1900s. The pauses between the chapters felt too long. While the music is pertinent to the storyline, they were not as crisp as they could have been.

John Goldsberry created an intriguing and suspense-filled storyline from a child’s point of view that leaves the audience on the edge of their chair.

There were no issues with the production or quality of this audiobook.