JEREMY BENDER VS. THE CUPCAKE CADETS

Sixth-grader Jeremy Bender knows life will never be the same if he doesn't come up with the money to repair the damages he made to his family's antique motorboat. So he enlists the support of his best friend, Slater, and devises a plan to win $500 by entering the Windjammer Whirl model sailboat race. Unfortunately, the contest is only open to the Cupcake Cadets, an all-girls group. Lincoln Hoppe creates hilarious girlish voices for Jeremy and Slater as they pose as girls and join the troop. His portrayals of the other characters—from Jeremy's older sister to the middle school bully and the outrageous troop leader—are also spot-on. Young listeners will enjoy this funny story with some serious implications. S.G. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2012]