THE HOUSE THAT WASN'T THERE

Narrator Ramon de Ocampo reveals the inner lives of two "tree children," Alder and Oak. The sixth graders become neighbors to each other and to a mysterious house that is frequented by Mort, an oversized taxidermied opossum that has come back to life. Both children are emotionally awkward and unhappy, and de Ocampo makes their concerns and sensitivities clear in a voice differentiated from his straightforward narration. He makes it just as clear how the two children find commonality in the kittens they adopt from the same litter. This nurtures a friendship that grows as they explore their connections and the mysteries of traveling to another dimension. The story's plot is filled with fantastical twists and coincidences that may not work for every listener. S.W. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2021]