A PACK OF LIARS

Pen pals are a gift, meant to open new horizons for kids. But what would happen if the stack of pen pal letters were merely a scheme by a modern-day Robin Hood to collect the goods of the rich and redistribute them to the needy? Brigit Forsyth reads the letters with attention to the nuances of each personality. Miranda's dreary laundry lists of questions, delivered in singsong fashion, irritate the listener with their perky banality; and Simon's litany of neuroses first aggravates and then endears him to us. Forsyth's development of character combines with Fine's engaging plot to create a charming story for middle-grade listeners. T.B. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/MAR 99]