Harry Versus the First 100 Days of School

I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical about an audiobook that focuses on the first day of school – it's a big ask for a story to sustain itself over 100 days. But Rebecca Soler's narration is so charming and her energy so infectious that even the slowest moments feel engaging. Jenkins' writing is clever and funny, and Soler brings out the best in it. I particularly loved the way Soler portrays Harry's growth and development over the course of the audiobook – it's clear that she's been paying close attention to the narrative arc and is committed to making it shine. One of the things that I appreciated most about this audiobook is the way it tackles the challenges of first grade without ever getting too heavy or preachy. Jenkins and Soler have a great sense of humor about the difficulties of learning to read and write, and their lighthearted approach makes even the most anxiety-provoking moments feel manageable. If I have one criticism, it's that some of the supporting characters could have been fleshed out a bit more – I felt like a few of them were a bit one-dimensional. But overall, this is a minor quibble in what is otherwise a delightful and engaging audiobook.