HEARTWOOD BOX

Nicol Zanzarella narrates this fun new YA audiobook, which Aguirre herself dubs "Stranger Things meets The Lake House." Its unfolding mysteries only get more interesting with each chapter. Aguirre is a master of poignant imagery, which transitions to audio beautifully. Her well-developed characters are enhanced by Zanzarella's excellent vocal portraits. The only odd thing is that the main character, Araceli, an exchange student from South America, is portrayed without an accent. However, between Zanzarella's proficient character differentiation and the series of intriguing mysteries, listeners probably won't mind. Overall, this is perfect for those who like their stories outside the box. N.H. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2019]