MAGRUDER'S CURIOSITY CABINET

Nancy Wu's narration is filled with empathy for Kitty Hayward, an English girl who has just arrived in America and lives on Coney Island at the turn of the last century. When her mother becomes ill and then disappears, Kitty meets the quirky "unusuals" from Magruder's Curiosity Cabinet. Wu portrays the colorful, well-developed cast of characters like the leopard lady, Miss Vivi; the mute Turkish boy, P-Ray; the half-male and half-female, Roasalind; and the legless black man, Zeph. With clarity and enthusiasm, Wu finds unique vocal mannerisms as the characters display intense emotions, moral fiber, and a strong sense of family. Throughout, Wu maintains the worried but charming persona of Kitty while evoking the black but sweet humor of this fantastical story. S.C.A. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2016]