Bad Girls

While a narration that is both elegant and playful might sound odd, that's just what esteemed narrator Barbara Rosenblat brings to this work about 26 women who, on first look, carried out unlawful deeds, but might have had other motives. Considering such figures as Bloody Mary I of England; Bonnie Parker; Belle Starr, spy for the Confederacy; and ancient history's Delilah and Cleopatra, the authors discuss in droll repartee what it is that made them "bad girls." Rosenblat furthers this banter and questioning of motives. She leaves sentences dangling, draws out phrases with key emphasis, and delivers tongue-in-cheek lines in a deadpan tone. Her clear, clipped elocution is a treat for listeners. Yolen and Stemple narrate their own conversations, which provide interludes between vignette. A.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine