LOVE, STARGIRL

Mandy Siegfried gives a multilayered portrayal of heroine Stargirl, who is sometimes a font of optimism and creativity and other times a girl with a broken heart. The story is told in a letter from Stargirl to her ex-boyfriend, Leo, telling him about her move from Arizona to Pennsylvania. Soon Stargirl meets the eccentric 6-year-old Dootsie, whom Siegfried depicts with an appropriately childish pitch. Then there's gruff Elvina, an 11-year-old bully and "doughnut angel," who delivers dozens of goodies to agoraphobic Betty Lou. These are a few of the quirky characters expertly portrayed by Siegfried. S.W. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 07/ JAN 08]