THE LIFTERS

Narrator Dion Graham draws listeners into this quirky tale set in the mysteriously off-kilter town of Carousel. Eggers tries his hand at engaging younger listeners, and Graham aids him greatly in that effort, breathing life into the central character, Gran (short for Granite), and his new pal, Catalina, who enter a secret underground world and seek to shore up Carousel. Graham excels at creating intrigue and suspense as this odd little story unfolds. His ability to depict a host of colorful characters adds a lot to this offbeat work, which is by turns fantastical, whimsical, and allegorical. Some listeners may wonder whether Eggers is a natural at writing for children, and all will enjoy Graham's performance of this story about sadness and the power of community to dispel it. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2018]