Sachar, Louis. Fuzzy Mud. 4 CDs. 4:05 hrs. Listening Library. 2015. $30. ISBN 9780804121385. digital download.

Gr 5-8 –To avoid being beaten up by bully Chad, fifth grader Tamaya and her seventh grader friend Marshall take a shortcut home through the forbidden woods that surround their private school. When Chad forces a confrontation, Tamaya throws some “fuzzy mud” in his face, unwittingly unleashing an environmental and medical disaster that will affect thousands of people and animals. The fuzzy mud is actually a scientific breakthrough gone wrong, but will this disaster be enough to stop further 18experimentation? With appropriate sound effects and outstanding narration, Kathleen McInerney and a full cast skillfully create two scenarios, each occurring in a different time and place but which complement each other and keep the suspense high until the last chapter. Sachar deftly combines a lesson about bullying, a reflection on virtues, a suggestion of possible ramifications of our ever-growing population, and a message about tampering with natural science, all without becoming preachy or overly scientific. A reading by the author of “Can Virtue Be Taught?” will compel listeners to reflect on the book’s themes. VERDICT A solid, suspenseful, and thoughtful tale that will appeal to fans of the author and science fiction. [“Featuring a plot that moves as fast as the ergonyms replicate, this issue-driven novel will captivate readers while giving them plenty to think about”: SLJ 5/15 review of the Delacorte book.]–MaryAnn Karre, West Middle School Binghamton, NY