NORTHWARD TO THE MOON

This sequel lacks the charm of MY ONE HUNDRED ADVENTURES. Fired from his job teaching French when the school board realizes he doesn't know the language, Ned promises to return his family to Massachusetts. But a detour involving a visit to a First Nations tribe, a bag of money, and Ned's sick mother postpones their return, making everyone a little touchy. Becca Battoe is believable as the voice of Jane, but she lacks the spark that gave life to the first novel. She tells the story with little range of emotion. Whether Jane imagines her family as a band of bandits making their detour-laden journey home or reacts to Ned's teasing of her first crush, the enthusiasm and joie de vivre of the first story aren’t here. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2010]