DEAR SWEET PEA

Phoebe Strole's youthful, upbeat voice conveys the cheerful spirit of seventh grader Sweet Pea as she narrates YA author Murphy's humorous story for younger listeners. Sweet Pea takes her parents' divorce in stride, accepts her imperfect body and her father's gayness, and recovers from the mortification of having vomited all over her classmates at a trampoline party. Strole expresses both her normalcy and her uncertainty, creating a relatable, engaging character. Gradually, however, Strole shows Sweet Pea's good humor eroding by her lack of success at juggling friendships and her growing awareness that her father is keeping secrets and her mother is dating. While Strole's Texas accent can sometimes be distracting, she offers a marvelous portrayal of Sweet Pea when she assumes the identity of the eccentric secret advice columnist Miss Flora Mae. S.W. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2019]