THE PICKLE KING

THE PICKLE KING is a young adult mystery that borders on horror. Laurence Bouvard gives an upbeat lilt and twinkle to her portrayal of the story’s narrator, 11-year-old Bea. Bea has lost her parents and longs to escape the confines of the rainy town of Elbow. After forming their own gang, Bea and her friend Sam confess they’ve found a dead body, and that starts them down the road to some grisly adventures. The body belonged to Herman, a local purveyor of pickles and other salty treats, and he’s not at all happy to find himself dead. Bouvard’s male characters seem a bit whiny, and some come off as just dumb. But she portrays the story’s female characters with ease. D.G. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2010]