Guys Read

While the title may suggest these stories are for "guys," listeners of both genders are likely to enjoy this collection of science fiction short stories. Excellent narrators are perfectly matched with the 10 stories. Listeners will laugh at the antics of Percy Jackson and his friends, groan at the absurdity of shoes trying to take over the Earth, and shudder at the thought of an enslaved ghost boy. Some stories are laugh-out-loud funny, while others are downright creepy. A couple of them might be disturbing for sensitive youngsters. The narration of each story is sublime, with not a single misstep. The narrators set the appropriate tone for each piece, making for an "out-of-this- world" listening experience! M.M.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine


Jon Scieszka again proves his expertise in humor and hooking boys on reading by choosing 10 hysterical stories, many of them written by the funniest children's book writers in the field. The audio adds top names in narration. Their timing and tones make each story, whether slapstick or slightly disgusting, even stronger. The range of hilarity is wide. There's Jack Gantos's disgusting tale of inventive wart removal, David Yoo's slightly spooky story of a boy who goes toe to claw with a homicidal turkey, and the dark humor of Kate DiCamillo and Jon Scieszka's story of the correspondence between a jaded writer and an A-seeking student. A great family listen, this audio is guaranteed to get giggles and guffaws. S.W. (c) AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine