Framed by Frank Cottrell Boyce (audio)
Unabridged book on 6 compact discs, 7 hours. Read by Jason Hughes. Harper Children's Audio, 2006. (Borrowed from the public library.)
Oh gosh. How to summarize this treasure? Nine-yera-old Dylan Hughes narrates the story of "Team Hughes," the Snowdonia Oasis Auto Marvel, the trials and tribulations of the town of Manod and the mountain, which overshadows the town, keeps it raining and houses a defunct quarry, which is now home to the collection of the National Gallery, relocated after London is flooded. Dylan is a keen observer of life in his dying town. He is the last boy in Manod, (not technically true, since he has a baby brother, but he's not old enough to play footie with). He takes over the log his parents keep and the reader is informed about every car that pulls into the Oasis and what they needed. His "market research" is really quite interesting and hysterical.
Not only is Dylan the sweetest main character I've ever met in literature, but he's backed up by a cast of fully fleshed out secondary characters, from his family, with Minnie, his genius younger sister and aspiring criminal mastermind, through Daft Tom, aka Nice Tom, expert on all things Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle and former burglar, Dylan's teacher, the elderly sisters who make their way down the mountain each Wednesday, the curator. This richly layered story is just lovely.
The narration by Jason Hughes (no relation) is brilliantly voiced, accented and paced despite the fact that he's a grown man narrating a nine-year-old. That usually bothers me and frankly, I didn't notice it. I guess I thought that Dylan was older.
Highly recommended.