Absolutely Truly

A lively musical jingle sets the stage for this sweet story about family, friendships, and rediscovering love. When Truly's grandparents join the Peace Corps, her family is left with the task of running the failing bookstore in Pumpkin Falls. Narrator Amy Rubinate's range of pitches and speech patterns depicts the colorful characters who inhabit the small town. Rubinate's clear diction and crisp, effervescent delivery of dialogue add to the fast pace of the imaginative mystery that unfolds when Truly discovers a letter in a valuable edition of CHARLOTTE'S WEB. While Rubinate's modulations are sometimes overdone, her voice for the young protagonist is springy and light, effectively capturing Truly's youth, curiosity, and likability. M.F. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

December 1, 2015

Gr 4-6-When Truly Lovejoy's father is injured serving in Afghanistan and has to turn down a coaching job at the University of Texas, her large family of seven decides to move to Pumpkin Falls, NH, to take over ownership of her grandparents' failing bookstore. Truly expects to hate Pumpkin Falls, but instead she finds a close-knit community and a series of adventures that give her a new confidence. When Truly discovers a scavenger hunt clue in a signed first edition of Charlotte's Web in the bookstore, she and her new friends form "the Pumpkin Falls Detectives" to solve the puzzle. The ending leaves room for a possible sequel, although one has not yet been announced. Narrator Amy Rubinate's soothing voice fits the cozy atmosphere of the novel well. VERDICT This realistic, heartwarming family story will have special appeal for children with parents in the armed forces. ["Fans of the author...will rejoice for a new series with a similarly cozy New England setting, great characters, and literary references to beloved classics": SLJ 6/14 review of the S. & S. book.]-Julie Judkins, Univ. of North Texas, Denton

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