FLEABRAIN LOVES FRANNY

In 1950s Pittsburgh, Franny Katzenback has been stricken with polio. As she grapples with that reality, she creates a fantasy world, courtesy of a literature-spouting flea with whom she corresponds, converses, and schemes. Julie Marcus is an animated narrator. Imaginative travels at night on a flying horse are a bit interruptive, but Franny's love for the book CHARLOTTE'S WEB and her interactions with her family, caregivers, neighbors, and school friends reverberate with spunk and believability. Marcus uses speed and intonation to create a Franny's emotions, especially as she befriends Fleabrain and rages about unfairness. As Fleabrain, Marcus is equally animated but with a high-pitched voice, which some listeners may find grating. An author's note, which includes a history of polio, concludes the production. A.R. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2014]