MS. RAPSCOTT'S GIRLS

Bravo to Katherine Kellgren, whose prodigious narrating skills are on display in this production. Kellgren moves up and down her vocal register with seeming ease and employs a shifting tempo as she narrates this droll tale of girls who are shipped off—literally, in cardboard boxes—to a lighthouse school, where they’re transformed into “Rapscott girls” by the devoted headmistress of the same name. Ms. Rapscott—with her imperious voice full of pronouncements—rolls her “r’s” at every possible opportunity, rattles off lists of parental offenses, and waxes sadly about her own birthday-cakeless childhood. Kellgren elongates vowels for emphasis and creates memorable voices for some of the girls, such as screeching Beatrice and whining Faye. This story is practical, adventure filled, and fun. A.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2015]