JUST LIKE JACKIE

Fifth grader Robinson Hart is angry, and narrator Cassandra Morris does an excellent job of portraying the fear and sadness fueling that anger. Robbie has never known any other family beyond her beloved grandfather, and now his memory is "getting tired." Worrying about Grandpa and what might happen if grown-ups discover he's no longer able to take care of her, Robbie loses her temper and lands herself in group guidance, which opens her up to the troubles of other students. Morris conveys Robbie's frustration, creating a fully realized depiction of this conflicted girl through her expert use of inflection and pacing. Other characters are not as distinctly rendered, but this is still a heartfelt story well told. S.G. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2019]