September 1, 2020
Gr 4-7-Danny's seventh-grade world is exploding. His mother is running for mayor, which means she will be away from home even more than now; his friends are building a giant cardboard unicorn that moves; and movie star Natalie Flores Griffin, Danny's former best friend, is coming to the Halloween dance as Danny's date. Except that Danny didn't really invite her-his friend Ajay's big sister took Danny's phone and, pretending to be Danny, sent the invitation. The only sane person in his world seems to be Danny's grandmother, Gram, who ends up in the hospital. What else can go wrong? Narrator Michael Crouch reads Danny's first-person POV, authentically relaying his angst, comedic adventures, and cluelessness around girls. Crouch's portrayal of Gram with a scratchy-yet-warm voice reflects her sharp-yet-caring personality. Humorous escapades combined with Danny's nervousness about his first date and his overwhelming bewilderment with life in general are performed with ease and skill. VERDICT The result is a charming audio that perfectly captures the wackiness of seventh grade.-Julie Paladino, formerly with East Chapel Hill H.S., NC
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