BECAUSE OF THE RABBIT

Narrator Kate Reinders's youthful voice is perfectly suited to fifth- grader Emma, who is starting public school for the first time after being homeschooled. Lonely and worried about fitting in, she befriends Jack, an autistic boy in her class. Reinders gives Jack a gravelly, flat monotone that differentiates him from the neurotypical kids as he and Emma bond over stories of her pet rabbit, Monsieur Lapin. The calm, reassuring tones of her parents' voices further enhance this believable story about the challenges of friendship, a new school, and being true to yourself. Lord reads her author's note, which reveals the elements of the story that are based on her own experience with her autistic son. S.C. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2019]