A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck, Read by Ron McLarty

I'm a fan of Richard Peck's works (see On the Wings of Heroes) and especially loved the Newbery Medal winner A Year Down Yonder and the Newbery honor winner A Long Way from Chicago. This holiday little book continues the tale of Grandma Dowdel, but introduces a new family--the Barnhardts. The father is a Methodist preacher and the twelve-year-old son, Bob, is the narrator. Bob is caught halfway to being grownup and he deals with his family's poverty and moving to a new town in an easy way. Mrs. Dowdel goes from being the scary witch in the neighborhood to an angel in disguise. Toting a shotgun, of course.

Once again, the narrator disappointed me by mispronouncing Bement and Sangamon River. I don't understand why Taped Editions wouldn't contact someone local (or even the author!) to make sure places were pronounced correctly.