PIPER REED, THE GREAT GYPSY

Piper Reed's dad is in the Navy, so she's moved around a lot—hence, her creation of a “Gypsy Club” for friends with similarly uprooted backgrounds. Narrator Emily Janice Card gives thoughtful dimension to Holt's engaging characters—from Piper's mother, with her soft Southern accent, to Uncle Leo, the eccentric hummingbird expert. Card also portrays Piper and her two sisters beautifully, capturing realistic friction between the siblings. Through Piper's story, young readers will glimpse a funny and genuine exploration of home (when you keep leaving homes behind) and identity (when you're the Navy-brat middle sister with a dog who won't obey your commands). Piper Reed is a gem, and Card makes her multifaceted nature shine. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2008]