Eight Keys

Gr 5—7—Adjusting to middle school is tough for many kids, but it is especially difficult for Elise. She suddenly feels embarrassed about her best friend, Franklin, and her locker mate deliberately smashes her lunch every day. Although her aunt and uncle are kind to her, Elise misses her parents who died when she was very young. Before his death, Elise's father left her eight keys that unlock eight mysterious doors to a barn behind the house. As Elise finds the keys and unlocks the doors, one by one, she gains the self confidence she needs to face her challenges. All the characters in Suzanne LaFleur's touching novel (Wendy Lamb Books, 2011) are believable, and the problems she faces are familiar and realistic. Narrator Georgette Perna gives Elise and Franklin a full range of subtle emotions and makes Elise's reserved personality come alive. Even when voicing adults, Perna sounds like a child imitating an adult voice. As a result, listeners are transported into Elise's world and see everything from her perspective. Many recent books about adjusting to middle school, like Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life (Little Brown, 2010; Hachette Audio, 2011) by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts, feature boys who act out and break rules to cover their anxiety. Tween girls will relate to Elise, who struggles quietly and courageously triumphs in the end.—Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT