SHIP OF DOLLS

It's 1926. Lexi's father has recently passed away, and her mother ("that flapper," according to Grandma) has left Lexi in the care of her grandparents while she pursues a career on the stage. With a youthful voice and a precise, engaging delivery, Kate Reinders hits all the emotional notes in this heartwarming coming-of-age story. Pining for her mother, Lexi focuses on winning a school contest that could reunite them. Unfortunately, the competition isn't fair. Reinders's determined, high-pitched voice conveys Lexi's resiliency throughout, while her use of hushed tones reveals Lexi's vulnerability. Despite her loneliness, Lexi comes to find friends and allies around her, including her neighbor, Jack, whose endearing devilishness shines in Reinders's raspy voice. A.S. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2014]