DAYDREAMER

Narrator Kevin Thelwell approaches this middle-grade fantasy with a tender yet adventurous spirit. Charles has an active imagination. He lives in an apartment with his mother and his building's manager, Glory, who turns into a dragon. When he suddenly sees his bully classmates turn into ogres and finds trolls moving into his building, Charles leans on Glory to help him navigate this new world of blended reality and fantasy. Thelwell is fully believable as a curious middle schooler. He gives daydreamer Charles a wispy, inquisitive voice that floats through an engaging story. A young audience may relate to Charles's reluctance to root himself in the real world, at times, and to his cunning problem-solving. A fun listen. G.M. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2024]