CAPE

Part historical fiction chapter book, part superhero graphic novel, this audio production handles transitions perfectly via its two narrators. In WWII Philadelphia, seventh grader Josie O'Malley wishes her favorite female superheroes would protect the world from evil. At a tryout for code crackers, she meets two fellow superhero fans, Mae and Akiko. The three girls suddenly develop their own remarkable superhero powers and join the League of Secret Heroes to foil a villain. Narrator Jesse Vilinsky brings honest emotion to the girls' story; her voice shudders and pulses with frustration at the racism, sexism, and bullying the girls face. Interspersed is Jonathan Davis's narration, which believably lifts listeners out of the real-world narrative, dropping them into the superhero action sequences. S.C. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2019]