HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Narrator Brenna Larsen evokes the joy and love of a girl who is visiting her grandmother. Mia is breaking her family's tradition by going to Maine on her own this summer. She's escaping the anxiety she feels at the prospect of her mom selling their house and looking for a new one with her boyfriend. The enthusiasm Larsen puts into her youthful voice is quickly tempered by frustration when Mia becomes jealous of a boy her age whom her grandmother is helping. Things get out of control when they discover a rare hawk in the area and Mia turns to an online birding site. Larsen creates a distinct cast of supporting characters as Mia learns lessons about compassion, responsibility, and the unreliability of social media. S.T.C. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2023]