THE STEPS

Twelve-year-old Annabel didn't want to spend Christmas visiting her father and his new family in Sydney, Australia. But what happens is so momentous that it must be recounted in order to explain her expanding family, complete with its new members, "The Steps." Caitlin Greer's narration manages to perfectly express the preteen's brattiness and determination to steal her father back, along with her sadness and eventual reconciliation in this heartwarming tale of the ultimate blended family. The only problems arise in the attempt to portray the Australian accents of Annabel's new family members: It might not occur to listeners that since Annabel is telling the story, an imperfect accent is to be expected. E.J.F. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 03]