THE BED AND BREAKFAST STAR

The cards are stacked against ten-year-old Elsa; she contends with a family breakup, frequent moves and intermittent poverty. But her feisty, joyful resilience turns every misfortune into an adventure. This juvenile novel has unusual depth and appeal. Josie Lawrence brings Elsa's first-person narration vividly to life. By the end of the lengthy exposition, during which Elsa alone speaks, she has become so real that the equally well-done voices of other characters are quite a surprise. They jar one into the realization that one has not been listening to the reader's own voice, but to a superb performance. Don't miss this one. J.N. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 95]