Wulf the Saxon REVIEW

Heirloom Audio Productions has done it yet again!  Their most recent audio drama, Wulf the Saxon, was full of intrigue and excitement that I have come to expect from their G.A. Henty adventures.  I received a physical copy of the 2 CD set for this review.  The CDs consist of about 2 1/2 hours of audio drama.  G.A. Henty was a great storyteller who eventually wrote his stories down.  He used actual events in history and characters to wow his audiences and draw them into his stories.

We love to sit down as a family and listen to these audio adventures. The Extraordinary Adventures of G.A. Henty never disappoint and I love that they are all about historical fiction.  In the past, we have had access to their study guides online that really helped us to dig deeper into the story and really think about what the author was trying to convey in the story (you need to be a member of Live The Adventure Club to access the study guides).

Wulf the Saxon 2 CD set

We liked that this time we just sat down and listened to a few tracks at a time over the course of several weeks.  There are a total of 21 tracks averaging about 5 to 8 minutes each.  We listen to them in our living room on our DVD player, but they will of course work in a car, computer, laptop, or CD player.

CD #1

CD#2

The story opens with Mr. George meeting two brothers, Etienne and Leon, who are playing aboard a ship.  They converse and Mr. George begins to tell them the story of Wulf the Saxon. The story is generally about William the Conqueror's Conquest of England (Norman Conquest) and the Battle of Hastings in 1066.  We learn that Wulf is a Thane and that British nobility ranks are (from top to bottom) King, Duke, and then Earl.  The Thanes are above commoners, but still not considered nobility.  Wulf has found favor with Harold the Earl who helps Wulf to grow up into a noble man.  Wulf is only 16 years old when the story begins.  He has overstepped his boundaries and gotten himself into some trouble.  Harold sends him home to grow up a little.  Wulf befriends a fellow student, Osgod, and they become friends to the end.  When Wulf comes back to England the King pardons him and he becomes a trusted member of Harold's inner circle.

Harold and his crew travel on a journey and we experience terror when their boat capsizes and they are captured in Normandy.  When Wulf and Beorn escape, their 3-day journey ends when they find favor with Barron DeBurg.  This is also when Wulf first meets the Barron's daughter, Agnes, and befriends his son, Guy.  Wulf also meets back up with Osgod who ends up going into battle with him.  War is going on and they fight several battles. They overthrow the castle at Llewellyn but things have just begun.  Within a year Harold summons Wulf again.

You must get this audio drama to learn about their battles and quests to secure their lands and throne.  How do they escape their capture at Normandy?  Who is Tostig and what do we learn about him? Why must Harold leave his wife Edith? What sacrifice do they choose to make? Who becomes king and what challenges do they face as a result? What happens to Osgod on the battlefield? Who will win Wulf's heart?  It is a wonderful story of battles, honor, sacrifice, true love and trust.  I like how it ends with Mr. George leading into another one of his stories, the Battle of Agincourt.




Heirloom Audio Productions does such a superb job of bringing these stories to life.  The sound effects are phenomenal and you really do feel like you are right there with the characters.  I highly recommend Wulf the Saxon. I also highly recommend you visit their website because it has a PLETHORA of information and free resources.  Just select the RESOURCES tab on the home page and you will be directed to the Live The Adventure page.  There you will find awesome parent resources (podcasts, movie reviews, much more) and kids activities that include recipes and word searches. You can also follow the link to the Live The Adventure Club to join and have access to even more resources (I highly recommend the study guides)! Read more about my review of the club in my In The Reign of Terror review.

You can connect with Heirloom Audio Productions at FACEBOOK, TWITTER, PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM, GOOGLE+, and YOUTUBE. Please take the time to check out the other reviews by fellow Review Crew members.

Captain Bayley's Heir REVIEW

Heirloom Audio Productions has done it again with their most recent audio drama Captain Bailey's Heir.  We were so happy to be able to review another one of their wonderful G.A. Henty adventures.  The kids really liked our last review of In the Reign of Terror and this one did not disappoint either.
The story, as usual, covers adventures from history.  This time it's about America's gold rush in California.  The drama opens with Mr. George writing to Ned and Gerald about his adventure in America. He tells them of a recent train trip where he meets two boys, Vincent and Dan whom he tells the story of General Robert E. Lee.
He's headed to the gold fields of California to research for his next book, Captain Bayley's Heir.  Before the story really begins he already experiences narrowly escaping a herd of stampeding buffalo!  He strikes up a conversation with his driver, Frank and that's where the story begins.  It opens in England and introduces a young man, Frank, and a young girl he fancies, Alice.  Alice is a Christian and Frank is not. They both live on the estate of Captain Harold Bayley.
We soon meet more characters.  Harry is a crippled boy who plays wonderful music and he has a dog named Flossy.  His mother, Mrs. Hall is a sweet, jovial lady.  The story takes off with Frank rescuing Harry's dog, Flossy, from drowning in the frozen lake.  We also soon meet Mr. Hall.  We also find out that Captain Bayley had an estranged daughter by the name of Ella who had gotten married to a gentleman by the name of Patrick.  Part of the story of his daughter is revealed at this point but is revisited again later toward the end of the story.
Frank attends a local private school whose headmaster is a Dr. Litter.  Frank is later accused of stealing and was scheduled to be expelled from school when he escapes and runs away to America to try to prove his innocence.  We have already learned in the story what an upright character he is so there is much turmoil as to if he is innocent or not.


Once in America, he experiences more adventures and ends up migrating to California and becomes part of the gold rush experience there.  While he is in America there are still adventures back in England with Alice and Captain Bayley and Harry.  Captain Bayley finds out that Harry is actually his grandson and  Alice never gives up on Franks innocence.
Once the gold rush experience comes to an end for Frank, he asks his friend who is headed back to England to inquire of Alice.  Frank gives him specific instructions based on whether he thinks Alice believes Frank is innocent or not.  Frank doesn't hear back and assumes the worst.  Meanwhile, Frank ends up getting involved in a shootout.
You must get this audio drama to find out what happens to Frank.  Does he survive the attack?  Does he ever get reconciled to Alice?  What becomes of Harry and Captain Bayley?  How do Mr. and Mrs. Hall take finding out that their "son" is Captain Bayley's grandson?  You'll be on the edge of your seat as you listen to Mr. George experience stampeding buffalo and an Indian attack.  There is never a dull moment in these dramas and the storylines always keep you engaged.
A HUGE plus to the resources at Heirloom Audio Productions is their study guides that they have available for each of their audio productions.  You must become a member of the Live the Adventure Club to access the additional resources but it is so worth it! We used the study guide for Captain Bayley's Heir and it really helped the kids to get so much more out of the story.  Not only does it include questions about each track but also causes them to think more in the Thinking Further question section.  The study guides also include extra information about the story and have Defining Words for each track also.  This can be used in many ways to expand their vocabulary.  I REALLY like the study guides and will now use them whenever we listen to these audio dramas in the future.  It causes you to get SO MUCH more out of the story and history covered. Please read more about this important resource in my previous review of In the Reign of Terror.

You can connect with Heirloom Audio Productions on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and GOOGLE+.
Please take the time to check out the reviews from my fellow Crew Review members.  You will not regret your purchase should you choose to get Captain Bayley's Heir or any of their other wonderful audio dramas.

In the Reign of Terror REVIEW

I love G.A. Henty history books and was so excited to be able to review the audio drama In the Reign of Terror from Heirloom Audio Productions.  The quality of this audio drama is superb and the dramatic actors just draw you in to the story like no other.  Be prepared to turn your sound up and sit back and enjoy some history audio drama style!
In the Reign of Terror is a story set during the French Revolution.  A young 16 year old boy, Harry, is visiting Arlington Cemetery with his family.  He meets an Englishman, Mr. George.  They converse and discuss the difference between the America Revolution and the French Revolution and how they were so different.  The American Revolution was about justice and pointed towards God while the French Revolution became a terror about personal independence and reliance and had nothing to do with God.  God was utterly rejected in the terror of the French Revolution.
Mr. George offers to share a story with Harry about a boy named Harry who just also happens to be 16 years old.  Thus begins the story of In the Reign of Terror.  Harry learns of the challenges and dangers that encompassed the French Revolutionary War.  We meet a Monsieur du Tillet and throughout the story learn bits and pieces of French culture and landmarks.
This dramatic telling of a story set during the French Revolution weaves a tale of excitement and terror.  While you are captivated by listening to the story you are also learning about a piece of history and what things were like during that time.  The story weaves in cultural aspects, landmarks and even bits and pieces of a foreign language.
Does Harry get attacked by a dog?  Who is the Marquis and his family to Harry?  Is Harry able to help the daughters of the Marquis escape? Who is Robespierre?  Does he have honest motives in his decisions? Does Marie get rescued from prison? Will the Marquis girls stand trial and will it result in their death? Is there a plan to save them?  You must get this audio drama to find out.  You won't be disappointed in the excitement and how well it captivates the listener's attention.

To make things even better there is a Study Guide available that is FREE with your subscription to the Live the Adventure Club.  This is not your ordinary study guide in my opinion.  It is jam packed with review questions and resources that allow you to immerse yourself and your students in the subject matter.  The study guide for this audio drama consists of 42 pages.  It begins with a list of the production crew and the cast. The introduction explains that each set of questions (there is a set for each of the 22 tracks) consists of 3 sections (The Listening Well, The Thinking Further, and The Defining Words sections). It also has a short bio about G.A. Henty, Maximillien Robespierre, and Marie Antoinette.  Most sections also have an Expand Your Learning box that further grows your knowledge about a related subject from the story.

In The Listening Well section there is a set of excellent review questions for the track just listened to.  The Thinking Further section asks your student to work a little harder and either look something up, draw conclusions, or speculate about Harry and what he is doing. The Defining Words section is an excellent way to add a language arts aspect to the study.  There is a list of vocabulary words to look up or use any way you wish.

The study guide concludes with a recommended reading list about the French Revolution, a 3-part bible study that covers subjects related to what is covered in the story, and finally a Historical Background for In the Reign of Terror.  I was very impressed with it as a whole and would highly recommend you consider joining the Live the Adventure Club.

So many resources in the club

Now would be a GREAT time to join because they are offering a 3-Month TRIAL PERIOD to the club for ONLY $1 and you get a FREE copy of their newest adventure Captain Bayley's Heir!  You just can't beat that!  If you agree that this is a wonderful resource and choose not to cancel, your subscription will continue at a rate of $24.75 billed every 3 months. So, for $99/year you get access to a HUGE library of resources and also FREE copies of their newest dramas 3 times a year and their accompanying study guides.  You must check out the trial because you will be able to see the awesome amount of resources available through the club.  I was pretty impressed with access to tons of free historical ebooks and videos, in addition to the study guides for each audio drama.

Part of the Live the Adventure Club

More resources available in the Live the Adventure Club

You can connect with Heirloom Audio Productions at FACEBOOK, TWITTER, GOOGLE+, and INSTAGRAM.
Please also take the time to check out the other reviews on this awesome audio drama.