PEST

A wide range of listeners will empathize with high school senior Hallie Mayhew's complicated home life. To escape, she's developed a detailed plan to win a scholarship to a university thousands of miles away. Her hope to get away from both of her divorced, fighting parents isn't surprising, but her plan to leave her nagging, shrill mother and quit her job with her grumpy father is threatened when a rival for the scholarship appears. Tyla Collier portrays Hallie with enthusiasm, making her a believable, intelligent young woman. The tribulations she suffers are capably rendered. Overall, Collier's narration captures the emotions of the characters, as well as their humor. E.J.F. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2022]