THE MAGIC MISFITS

Narrating this first in a series, Neil Patrick Harris's tone aims at taking listeners into his confidence. After giving tips on how to listen, Harris dives into the story. Carter is desperate to leave his miserable life assisting his guardian, a con artist. After he finally escapes on a train, he finds himself in Mineral Wells, where he's welcomed by an illusionist and a gang of five friends who are young, quirky, and a bit magical. Can they save the town from the scheming B.B. Bosso and his traveling slideshow? Harris's breathless style suggests he's telling the story exclusively for each listener. His characters are distinctive: Carter's trust issues are portrayed clearly; the other young people sound believable; and the villain, B.B. Bosso, comes across as appropriately gruff and conniving. While the quick changes in character voices can be a bit jarring at times, overall, the many characters add to the story's excitement. A.R. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2017]