NIGHTMARES!

It will be evident to listeners that Jason Segel is having fun narrating his first book. The story features 11-year-old Charlie and his friends, all of whom have terrible nightmares--ones that seem to drag the children bodily into their scary world. Segel takes Charlie's concerns seriously, honestly conveying the character's worry, fear, and anger. But he lightens the scariness with humorous touches, like giving over-the-top accents to various monsters. A French Bigfoot, anyone? The human characters are varied and realistic, except for the ones Charlie suspects of being monsters, who have sharp edges to their voices. This fun middle-grade story would make good listening on a car trip. Segel's performance is lively enough for those of all ages to enjoy. G.D. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2014]