The Lotterys More or Less

Th�r�se Plummer's lively narration is well suited to the third-person perspective of 9-year-old Sumac Lottery, the self-appointed recordkeeper for a large, unusual family. Through her eyes we see this story, after an introduction to the family's inclusive makeup: two moms, two dads, and children both biological and adopted. There's also a grumpy grandfather struggling with dementia and a young couch surfer from Brazil. When a dangerous ice storm hits Toronto just before Christmas, stranding one of the dads and the oldest brother away from home, the Lotterys must regretfully alter their customary holiday traditions. Plummer's accents, inflection, and pacing help keep characters straight and events moving briskly. The seamless incorporation of homeschooling scenes introduces vocabulary, science, and more, adding to the delightful mayhem. S.G. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine