IT ATE MY SISTER

Author/narrator Mark Binder is a dream as he delivers the perfect tone for his seemingly autobiographical short stories. Listeners meet Mark--who remains nameless--and his older sister, Ellen. Both are relatable and very opposite. Stories such as "The Bully and the Shrimp" and "The Haunted Playground" recount cleverly enjoyable misadventures. Most engrossing is Mark's science project involving giant slugs that inadvertently eat Ellen, which Binder delivers as if it were totally possible. Standouts are the science teacher, whose German-Texas accent is a groaner, and the school bully, Butch, who is tamed by Mark's diminutive cousin, Adam. Binder's own vocal sound effects, appropriate music, humor, and humanity make these stories a pleasure for all ages. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2023]