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PEOPLE & ARTS Thursday 12 sepTember 2019
Smartphone, Matchbox cars among Author doles out clues

Toy Hall of Fame finalists in the character-driven

‘The Nanny’

By OLINE H. COGDILL
Associated Press
“The Nanny” (William
Morrow), by Gilly Mac-
millan Classism, fragile
memories and a family
torn apart by misunder-
standings and jealousy
haunt an aristocratic Brit-
ish family in “The Nanny,”
Gilly Macmillan’s en-
thralling fifth novel. So-
phisticated plotting and
believable characters el-
evate “The Nanny” as a
In this Aug. 13, 2019 photo provided by the National Toy Hall of Fame are the 2019 finalists, from solid family drama. This cover image released
left to right, Jenga, Magic the Gathering, My Little Pony, Coloring Book, Matchbox Cars, Top, Nerf Macmillan proves the by William Morrow shows
Blaster, Risk, Masters of the Universe, Care Bears, Smartphone, and Fisher-Price Corn Popper. “The Nanny,” a novel by
Associated Press truth in the adage that Gilly Macmillan.
Associated Press
By CAROLYN THOMPSON other experts who make up keep up with demand. The the rich are different
from you and me while Virginia’s great regrets is
Associated Press a national selection com- fantasy-themed game re- showing family dynamics that she never had the
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — mittee, as well as fans who quires both chance and often are an equalizer. kind of relationship that
The smartphone is being can vote for their favorite skill. Granted, most people she yearned to have with
considered for induction online. Masters of the Universe: aren’t raised by nannies Jo. A skull discovered on
into the National Toy Hall To make it into the hall, Mattel’s action figures, in- nor do they live in sprawl- the estate’s island has Jo
of Fame this year in recog- toys have to be innovative, cluding He-Man and She- ing mansions in the Brit- wondering if it belongs
nition of its impact on how widely recognized, shown Ra, were featured in a ish countryside as do the to Hannah and if her
people play and interact. to be more than a pass- cartoon series from 1983 Holts. But family problems parents murdered her
The other finalists an- ing fad and foster learn- to 1985 and have been are universal. nanny. When the long-
nounced Wednesday are: ing, creativity or discovery on toothbrushes, sleeping Jocelyn Holt spent 20 lost Hannah eventually
Care Bears, the coloring through play. Sixty-eight bags and other merchan- years distancing herself shows up, Jo is thrilled,
book, Fisher-Price Corn toys currently occupy the dise. from her parents, Lord hoping to re-establish a
Popper, Jenga, Magic the National Toy Hall of Fame. Matchbox cars: The toy and Lady Holt, and their loving relationship with
Gathering, Masters of the More about this year’s final- cars debuted in 1952 and, estate, Lake Hall. She her beloved nanny; Vir-
Universe, Matchbox cars, ists from the hall of fame: by 1960, were selling at a moved to California, ginia and Ruby feel dif-
My Little Pony, Nerf Blaster, Care Bears: Funshine Bear rate of more than 100 mil- married and eventually ferently about Hannah.
Risk, and the top. and friends were created in lion a year in the United had a daughter, Ruby, The mystery of what
The smartphone earned a the 1980s as a line of greet- States. who is now 10 years old. happened to Hannah
place among the 12 final- ing card characters for the If inducted, they would join Jocelyn — who calls her- — and the hints of vio-
ists because of its status as American Greetings Corp. competitor Hot Wheels, self Jo — hasn’t been in lence — drive the plot,
a platform for countless but grew to star in television which already have a England for years, even but the real strength of
mobile games and play- shows and games. In 2015, place in the National Toy missing the funeral of her “The Nanny” is the moth-
ful interactions, including Netflix launched an ani- Hall of Fame. father, Alexander, whom er-daughter relationship
sending GIFs and altering mated series around them. My Little Pony: Introduced she loved, because that and how feelings can be
photos, hall of fame offi- The coloring book: No in the 1980s and reintro- would mean seeing her manipulated. Macmillan
cials said. longer just for kids, a new duced in 2003, the small mother, Virginia, whom perceptively alternates
The winners will be induct- genre of coloring books pastel ponies outsold even she loathes. Jo remem- between the memories
ed Nov. 7. Last year’s hon- featuring more complex Barbie for several years at bers a childhood of ne- of Virginia and Jo and
orees were the Magic 8 designs has caught on with the peak of their popular- glect and disgust from their present situation,
Ball, pinball and Uno. adults. ity. her mother, but being allowing the reader to
“These 12 toys represent Fisher-Price Corn Popper: Nerf Blaster: Kids use the toy loved and cherished by have both empathy and
the wide scope of play — Toddlers have been push- guns to fire off soft foam her nanny, Hannah. Jo irritation with both as their
from the simple, traditional ing the wheeled toy along darts, missiles and disks. and Ruby are forced to contrasting relationship
spinning top that has been since 1957, watching and Risk: The strategy board move back to Lake Hall emerges. Lady and Lord
played with since pre-his- listening to the bright balls game challenges players following the death of Holt believed themselves
tory to the ultra-modern inside pop. to control armies and con- her husband Chris. Jo to be respected, even
smartphone which has dra- Jenga: The game in which quer the world. believes she has no oth- loved, by the villagers.
matically changed how players stack blocks and It was based on the French er options — all of their But many residents, and
people of all ages play and then try to remove them game La Conquête du money was tied up in the detective investigat-
connect,” said Christopher without toppling the tower Monde and was intro- Chris’ failing business and ing the skull, despise the
Bensch, vice president for was created by English- duced in the United States she isn’t an American aristocrats, assuming the
collections. woman Leslie Scott based in 1959. citizen. Jo and Virginia wealthy suffer no conse-
Anyone can nominate a on wooden blocks from her Top: The spinning top has resume their fractious quences for their actions.
toy for consideration by the childhood in Africa. been a childhood staple relationship. Jo barely Macmillan wisely doles
hall of fame, located in- Magic the Gathering: The of cultures the world over, hides her contempt for out clues leading to a
side The Strong museum in collectible card game was and depictions of it can her mother and resents surprising finale in the
Rochester. The winners are so popular when Wizards be seen in art and pot- that Ruby and Virginia character-driven “The
selected with input from of the Coast released it in tery throughout human quickly bond. But one of Nanny.”q
historians, educators and 1993 that the firm couldn’t history.q