Reviews are sorted alphabetically by author’s last name.
The house of the scorpion. Farmer, Nancy. Read by Raúl Esparza. Simon & Schuster Inc. (Audioworks), 2008. [email protected], (800-223-2336). 10 hours. $39.99. ISBN 978-0-7435-7246-0.
Exploring the issues of cloning in a dystopian, opium-filled world, Farmer’s gripping story of Matteo Alacrán and his search to find out who he is translates well to audiobook. Since the book contains a hefty amount of Spanish, it was a wise decision to cast a Latino to read the story. Esparza not only accurately pronounces the Spanish words, however, but creates a wide range of voices for the many characters in the story. (MC)
Hush, hush. Fitzpatrick, Becca. Read by Caitlin Greer. Simon & Schuster Inc. (Audioworks), 2009. [email protected], (800-223-2336). 9 hours. $34.99. ISBN 978-0-7435-9956-6.
Hush, Hush tells the now-familiar tale of a teenage girl who falls in love with a mysterious boy who’s not only a little bit dangerous, but who is also not human. Greer’s airy voice convincingly portrays the narrator, Nora, and her best friend Vee. However, her attempts at gruffness in the male characters are less convincing. Overall, however, Greer’s timing and tone work effectively to tell the tale. (MC)
A million shades of gray. Kadohata, Cynthia. Read by Keith Nobbs. Simon & Schuster Inc. (Audioworks), 2010. [email protected], (800-223-2336). 4.5 hours. $29.99. ISBN 978-0-7435-8196-7.
Not many stories talk about the Vietnam War from the Vietnamese perspective, and Kadohata’s tale of Y’Tin, who wants more than anything to be an elephant trainer, is fascinating and powerful. Keith Nobbs’ expressive and well-timed reading maintains the power and emotion of the novel. (MC)
Reviews by Megan Creasey