LILY AND THE NIGHT CREATURES

Imogen Wilde's husky voice and English accent enliven the narrative and the characters in this spooky middle-grade adventure. Lily is a girl who doesn't want to accept two challenging truths: She has a serious chronic illness, and her parents are thrilled about the imminent arrival of "the Baby." But when Lily becomes caught up in a deadly battle to repossess her family home from sinister replicant "parent-things," she must learn how to confront her fears, self-doubt, and anger. Wilde skillfully conveys both realism and fantasy through marvelous characterizations. In particular, the endearingly brave little mouse's voice is exceptional among the personalities Wilde creates for Lily's supportive animal friends. However, her spontaneous, natural style and dynamic pacing are what make this a genuinely entertaining listen. S.A.A. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2022]