MILLIONAIRES FOR THE MONTH

Christopher Gebauer narrates the alternating points of view of seventh-graders Felix and Benji, who are challenged to spend five million dollars in a month. Gebauer distinguishes each boy clearly and roots listeners in each viewpoint so that the pair's madcap adventures don't seem so hyperbolic. Felix is shy, and while his principles are high, his family's income is low. He cares too much about how he spends the money, while Gebauer's portrayal of Benji's careless attitude makes for an intriguing dynamic that adds to the time-driven plot. Gebaurer's narration emphasizes the boys' emotional growth as strongly as their spending. The story's dramatization of their need to understand math and money provides a strong counterbalance to their fantastical purchasing power. S.W. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2020]