THE FOURTEENTH GOLDFISH

Georgette Perna’s deft narration enhances Holm’s story of a generation gap gone haywire. How do you cope when your grandfather turns up as a teenager who becomes your babysitter and draws you into a daring B and E of his former science lab? Perna voices 12-year-old Ellie’s wacky adventures with glee. Her tones contrast well with the voice of Ellie’s exasperated mother, who doles out life lessons to her previously 70-year-old father, Melvin, now a teen. Even better is Perna’s delivery of Melvin’s mixed persona of adolescent know-it-all and senior curmudgeon. Perna’s exuberant storytelling takes the edge off the author’s slight didacticism about the wonders, and evils, of science. D.P.D. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2014]