VIVA DURANT AND THE SECRET OF THE SILVER BUTTONS

Music and sound effects abound in this mystery featuring a plucky young black girl who is visiting her aunt in New Orleans. Viva Durant investigates an article claiming that a secret treasure map is hidden in the words of the hand-clapping rhyme "Miss Mary Mack." Narrator Bahni Turpin pulls listeners along as Viva boldly follows clues wherever they lead--and as she does so, listeners get to hear the streetcar ride to the business district, a jazz band in the French Quarter, and even a second line parade outside the French Market. Viva sings the clues she uncovers, a rhyming technique she uses for remembering. Turpin contrasts Viva's plain California speech with that of her relatives who have the unique accent and vocabulary of New Orleans. In addition to ambient sounds, mood music underscores frequent risky situations. L.T. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2019]