SKELETON TREE

Christopher Gebauer narrates this charming yet heartbreaking story about the lighter side of death and dying. When 12-year-old Stanly finds a finger bone in his backyard, he's delighted to think he may win the Young Discoverer's Competition and make his absentee father proud enough of him to return. But as the bone grows into a full-fledged skeleton--which appears in some photographs donning a black velvet cloak and scythe--he begins to suspect it may be connected to his younger sister Miren's mysterious illness. Gebauer's playful quality lends itself to this audiobook. Even as the story grows increasingly ominous, author Ventrella manages to weave a touch of whimsy into every aspect of it. S.P. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2018]