ANOTHER

Ramon de Ocampo's prosaic narration adds to the uneasy mood of this middle-grade horror story. After an embarrassing school incident, Casey becomes a social outcast. His family worries about him--until a local dad drops a new friend at Casey's home. Morel doesn't speak, has no eyes, and appears to be made of clay. Oddly, only Casey seems to notice these peculiarities. De Ocampo shines at adding to the listener's discomfort. Rather than reflect Casey's anxiety, his delivery mirrors the normalcy that Casey's parents exhibit around Morel. As days pass, Morel becomes more boy-like and ingratiates himself with Casey's parents. When Morel's true nature is finally revealed, de Ocampo conveys Casey's panic--which the listener has felt all along. L.T. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2025]