I think this is a good book. First, I like how it alludes to the popular book for young readers- Charlottes Web. Allusion is a difficult concept to understand, and this book really uses this literacy element well. Franny, the main character, befriends a flea; just as Wilbur befriended a spider. I also like how the book is set in the past, and Franny is recovering from polio. While many children can't directly relate to this, the language and detail in the book make Frannies struggles become personal to the reader. The connection the reader develops with Franny is strong and thoughtful, to young readers this is a key factor to engagement. I also like how the book is funny. Sometimes historical fiction can be dry, but the author was very thoughtful to make the interactions Franny has humorous. For example, during her physical therapy she falls and embarrasses herself in front of some of her classmates. They make this into a joke that carries throughout the story. The moral is you can find friendship anywhere. ( )

I chose the audiobook edition for Fleabrain Loves Franny written by Joanne Rocklin and narrated by Julie Marcus. The year is 1952 and ten year old ,Franny Katzenback is learning to cope with the paralysis that was caused by her bout of polio. While at home from school recuperating Franny meets a flea with an extensive vocabulary and a bold personality and the two begin a friendship. Although, Fleabrain is exceptionally intelligent his social quotient isn't quite as high and there are some lessons to be learned along the way. I'm glad I chose the audiobook version for this book because I think I would have rated it lower if I was reading it myself. Julie Marcus' Fleabrain voice was just hilarious and helped add to the story which was somewhat slow at times. This book which is targeted to middle grade audiences is well written but a bit disjointed at times with the sections that feature Frannie and Fleabrain together being out in left field. While not a bad book I don't see that it will have a large appeal to its target audience because of some of the thematic elements, such as agape love, Kafka and Nietzsche. Although, the more mature middle grade student might understand the concepts I think the story line drags to much to hold their interest. 3 stars, interesting concept but lackluster execution. ( )

NOTE: This refers to the unabridged audio book edition.
It's 1952 and eleven year old Franny Katzenback is discovering that life for her is different and extremely unfair. Not only has polio taken away her ability to walk, it has instilled irrational fear in her friends who mistakenly believe she's still contagious. Add in a nurse who treats her cruelly and a sense of isolation and you get a picture of what her life has become. Enter Fleabrain, a brilliant, but pompous insect living at the tip of her dog's tail. He's an obsessive reader and uses various types of flea saliva to introduce Franny to a new world.
Despite his pomposity, he helps Franny get through the rough spots, even turning her into somewhat of a mystery hero and banishing the cruel nurse in one of the funnier parts of the story.
Narrator Julie Marcus does a good job with the voices, although Fleabrain's stridency may grate on some ears. The weaving in of information about the birth and death dates of so many historical figures may put off some younger listeners, but the way the author brings an earlier time and a frightening epidemic to life make this a very good addition to historical fiction for juveniles.

It's 1952, and Franny has polio, so badly that the book begins with Franny in an iron lung, the machine whooshing as a friendly nun reads to her from newly-published Charlotte's Web. Returning home should mean she's reunited with family and friends, but everything seems different now. Some parents still think her polio is contagious and keep their children away. Even her family seems different. Her visiting nurse thinks she's not trying. But someone is watching -- Fleabrain the flea, who interacts with Franny via her journal. At first, he is a welcome friend (albeit a bit overly intellectual for middle-grade Franny). But why can he not ever share her affection for Charlotte's Web? Is it because Fleabrain's friendship is really about Fleabrain's needs, and he cannot validate Franny's? While Fleabrain's trajectory is a bit too-fantastical, and it is Franny's story of increased physical and emotional strength that grips the reader, this is a story of a sweetness that we rarely see in today's fiction. Pair with Kehret's Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio. Recommended. (76) ( )