Hidden

Six years after a harrowing experience changes the lives of two young girls, their paths cross at a summer camp. This gripping story, told from both their perspectives, carries listeners along their journeys of understanding and forgiveness. Performed by two narrators, vocal characterizations are good for both Wren (Sisi Aisha Johnson) and Darra (Maria Cabezas), but smaller characters are a bit stereotypical and, at times, inconsistent. Johnson's vocal portrayal fits her character's journey. Wren's voice aptly grows from that of an innocent and anxious 8-year-old into that of a mature and knowing 14-year-old. Cabezas's Darra is less consistent; a portrayal that may be meant to sound moody, confused, or sullen often sounds soft-spoken and limp, which does not fit the character. J.K.R. (c) AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine

November 1, 2012
Gr 5-8-Two young protagonists take turns telling Helen Frost's story in free verse (Farrar, Straus, 2011) about an accidental encounter that brought them together when they were only eight years old. Darra's mean and struggling father stole Wren's family's car, unaware that Wren was hiding under a blanket in the back. During the tense days when Wren was in the garage and frightened, Darra guessed that the girl was hiding and made a clever but imperfect attempt to help her. At age 14, the girls find one another again at summer camp. Having overheard each other's names in the garage during the incident, they know each other instantly. No one speaks of the "kidnapping" until an event in lifesaving class brings the tensions to the surface. The girls work through their adolescent guilt, blame, misunderstandings, and misconceptions. Sisi Aisha Johnson as Wren and Maria Cabezas as Darra recount the story with age-appropriate expression and inflection. The voices of the young narrators are a bit difficult to distinguish at times and listeners may lose track of who is speaking. In the print version, Frost uses two styles of verse to offer insight into the girl's thoughts. A tender and thoughtful story.-"Jane Newschwander, Fluvanna County Public Schools, VA"

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.