FICTION

Bee Bakshi and the Gingerbread Sisters

by Emi Pinto (text) & narrated by Reena Dutt
HarperAudio. Sept. 2023. 751p. $27.99. ISBN 9780063275751.
COPY ISBN
Gr 3-7–Bee should be with her bestie in Florida at the Betsy Chillers amusement park for the exclusive release of the fictional sleuth's latest horror installment. Instead, she’s spending the week at Storm Lake, forced to listen to her father spout odd facts, her mother boast about bargains, her granny hum random showtunes. How could anyone not be embarrassed with a family like that? Meeting the neighbors offers no relief—“weird kid” Lucas definitely needs to be avoided. The week improves when Bee meets cool-girl Alina, but what of the local witch? Dutt showcases a versatile range, as believable as tween Bee as lyrically accented Granny. Dutt also adeptly channels judgmental BFF Kitty, manipulative Alina, down-to-earth Mom, and trusting Lucas.
VERDICT Dutt bestows aural enhancement to debut author Pinto’s homage to “Hansel and Gretel”—cleverly updated with mischievous loons, peach pickles, and ghost-seeing goggles.
Reviewed by Terry Hong , Oct 01, 2023

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