British actor Hughes (with his spot-on Welsh accent) nails his reading of Boyce's (Millions
) latest, serving up humor, quirkiness and intrigue at every turn. The exploits of nine-year-old Dylan Hughes's family, who run the Snowdonia Oasis Auto Marvel gas station/copier shop/coffee house in the tiny gray town of Madon, Wales, are the stuff of belly laughs—handled expertly in Hughes's deadpan tone and interpretation of Boyce's kid-friendly dialogue and colloquialisms. Oddball locals, including Daft Tom, a grown man obsessed with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, provide some hilarious exchanges for narrator Dylan. But the real action takes off when Dylan's dad flees a tax inquiry and "team Hughes" is left to rescue the family business. At the same time, flooding in London has forced the National Gallery to move many of its masterpieces to an abandoned quarry near the Snowdonia Oasis. Dylan's younger sister, Minnie, an aspiring criminal mastermind, comes up with a heist plan that just may save the day for everyone. This skillfully drawn kooky family, the story's high-octane premise and Hughes's knockout take on the tale will quickly have listeners hooked. Ages 8-14. (Aug.)
