THE INCREDIBLE MAGIC OF BEING

Narrator Pierce Cravens embraces the youth, innocence, and passion of 9-year-old Julian, a boy with heart and a heart condition. The verve of Cravens's reading captures the positive nature of a boy who emphasizes his love of astronomy and downplays his fears. Julian is courageous--he's not afraid of befriending the grouchy elderly neighbor who threatens the success of his mothers' B&B. Living with the knowledge of his potential early death, he calls himself a "uni-sensor"; he believes he receives information from the universe. His love of science leads him to periodically note "Facts and Random Thoughts" (FARTS), which are signaled with a metallic sound that suggests reaching beyond the known world. Balancing the elements of magical realism in this story, Cravens makes Julian's relationships very real. S.W. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2017]