Matylda, Bright and Tender

Gr 5–8—Sussy and Guy are two fourth-grade best friends who do everything together, including games of Monopoly, beach vacations, and sledding. They even convince Sussy's parents to buy them a pet leopard gecko that they name Matylda. The pair spend time catching crickets for Matylda to eat, coaxing her to walk onto their hands, and developing an elaborate backstory about Matylda's past before she came to live with them. Tragedy strikes early in the story when Guy is killed in a bike accident and Sussy grapples with how to go on without her best friend. She seeks comfort from Matylda, and as she works through her grief, she becomes obsessed with creating the most perfect environment for the lizard. Narrator Jenna Lamia does an excellent job expressing Sussy's shock, anger, obsession, and grief, and her authentic voicing makes listeners ache for Sussy's loss. Her narration fluctuates as Sussy's mood changes, and the overall effect is haunting.