PIE IN THE SKY

Narrator Remy Hii balances humor and sorrow in this heartfelt story of new immigrants. Shortly after the death of their father, a baker, 11-year-old Jingwen and his little brother, Yanghao, emigrate from China to Australia, where they bake oodles of fanciful cakes to feel closer to the homeland they left behind. Hii accurately captures Jingwen's frustrations with grief, making friends, and learning English on "Mars." As Yanghao, Hii has the perfect squeal of a sugar-hyped but still lovable 9-year-old boy. Conversations in English that are indiscernible to Jingwen are effectively conveyed as high-pitched garble. Though listeners might miss the expressiveness of the original chapter book/graphic novel, this #ownvoices audio offers moments of self-discovery and sweetness. E.A.N. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2020]