School Library Journal: Gr 4-7 -Fans of Patrick Carman's "Land of Elyon" trilogy will be delighted to learn about Roland and Thomas Warvold's unusual and dangerous childhoods in this prequel (Scholastic, 2007) to the series. Their story begins in an orphanage where the brothers are forced to perform manual labor along with the other maltreated children. Thomas dreams of escaping, and when an opportunity arises, both brothers flee. The long journey is wrought with danger and mysterious magic, but the boys move from obstacle to obstacle with courage and determination. Narrator Ron McLarty's skillful, well-paced reading adds excitement, suspense, and thoughtful introspection when needed. He successfully conveys the personalities and emotions of the brothers. In addition to providing background information for fans of the trilogy, this book is also a fine stand-alone, action-packed fantasy.-Wendy Woodfill, Hennepin County Library, Minnetonka, MN