JAKE AND LILY

Growing up means growing apart for entangled twins Jake and Lily. As Spinelli’s story recounts the twins’ quarrels and reconciliations, narrators Cassandra Morris and Jesse Bernstein perfectly capture the pair’s peevishness and angst, as well as their magical connections. Lily is convinced they’ll always finish each other’s sentences and be the “never-lost” twins. She’s devastated when Jake rides off with the neighborhood bully, Bump Stubbins, and his gang of bicycle-riding “death rays” to taunt nerdy “supergoobers.” Morris and Bernstein capture the boorish Bump, his pals and victims, and the twins’ parents with as much humor and empathy as Spinelli supplies. A maturing Jake emerges as does an indomitable Lily, who grows from whiner to winner as she uses her nascent forensic skills to great advantage. D.P.D. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2012]