School Library Journal» Brilliance Audio

Pick of the Day: See You at Harry’s (Audiobook)

SLJ — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 14:00:24 +0000

See You at Harry’s. By Jo Knowles. 5 CDs. 5:49 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4558-8958-7. $49.97.
Gr 7 Up–Twelve-year-old Fern is quiet and conciliatory, and often taken for granted. Left to take care of whatever the rest of the family members are too busy to deal with, she feels alone and resentful. Dad is constantly trying to boost business for the family restaurant, Mom is always escaping to meditate, Sarah is spending an embarrassing post-high school gap year working in the restaurant, and Holden is teetering on the verge of announcing his sexual orientation. The glue that holds the family together is three-year-old Charlie. Everyone’s biggest joy, and sometimes Fern’s biggest pain, Charlie’s uninhibited glee in life keeps everything in perspective. Then, while in Fern’s care, a freak accident takes Charlie’s life. What starts out as a wonderfully realistic look at growing up in a semi-dysfunctional middle-class family turns swiftly into an equally realistic portrait of profound loss and guilt. Knowles’s novel (Candlewick, 2012) takes us step by painful step through the days leading up to the funeral, the day of the funeral, and onto the impossible process of getting back to “normal” life. Kate Rudd gives a brilliant performance as, through the eyes, heart, and soul of Fern, she gives voice to the full breadth of grief experienced by each member of the family. Listeners are taken through every stage of the dark, heart-wrenching grieving process with throat constricting immediacy, and then led slowly back into the light. A beautiful, if painful, story delivered with remarkable clarity and sensitivity through an exceptional performance.–Cary Frostick, Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Falls Church, VA

Pick of the Day: Crush: The Theory, Practice and Destructive Properties of Love (CD)

SLJ — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:50:04 +0000

Crush: The Theory, Practice and Destructive Properties of Love. By Gary Paulsen. 2 CDs. 2:28 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4692-0311-9. $39.97.
Gr 5-8–Once again, Kevin Spencer (Liar, Liar and Flat Broke) tackles the problems of his world, this time with careful, scientific logic, and no lies. Kevin still has a crush on Tina Zabinski,. He’s sure that he is her perfect match, but he won’t approach her until he’s 100 percent positive that he can win her heart. This doesn’t seem likely, since he becomes more awkward and tongue-tied whenever she’s around. When handsome and smooth-talking Cash Devine starts moving in on his target, Kevin has to move quickly. Since love is based on chemistry, Kevin decides to set up a series of scientific experiments to help him discover the meaning of love and the way to a girl’s heart. While a candlelit dinner for his parents is a disaster and his version of the Cake Walk at the Carnival doesn’t quite work out as planned, some seemingly impossible matches do work. Even his jock of a brother and the hockey team members are paired off with lovely figure skaters. Through it all, Kevin is never discouraged, no matter how badly his romantic setups backfire. Joshua Swanson’s narration brings Kevin to life with his witty and animated expression, sounding just like an enthusiastic eighth grader in love. Both boys and girls will enjoy Paulsen’s novel “study” of young love (Wendy Lamb Bks., 2012), which is totally hilarious and not the least bit mushy.–MaryAnn Karre, West Middle School, Binghamton, NY

Pick of the Day: Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Extra Credit (CD)

SLJ — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:03:23 +0000

Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Extra Credit. By Tom Greenwald. 4 CDs. 4:29 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4558-0309-5. $49.97.
Gr 5-7–In this followup (2012) to Tom Greenwald’s Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading (2011, both Roaring Brook), a poor report card and a reputation for cutting up in school land Charlie Joe in his middle school counselor’s office. Things go from bad to worse, causing Ms. Ferrell to recommend that Charlie Joe attend “Camp Rituhbukkee,” a summer camp that focuses on academics and reading. Charlie Joe, a self-professed non-reader, is horrified, and he quickly offers a deal. If he gets straight A’s for the last quarter of the school year, he won’t have to attend “Camp Life-is-suckee.” The deal is made and the boy must figure out how to raise his grades. The answer: extra credit. What ensues is a riot of middle-school mayhem, relationship issues, and teacher troubles all rendered hilarious by the author. McLeod Andrews reads with equal parts youthful exuberance and snarky sarcasm. He gets extra credit for turning a fantastic book into an A+ audiobook through his amazing and entertaining cast of character voices. Give this audio (plus the book, with illustrations by J.P. Coovert) to fans of the “Wimpy Kid” series. Even reluctant readers, like Charlie Joe, will be won over by this hilarious take on middle-school life, and will be clamoring for the next title in the series.–Lisa Hubler, Charles F. Brush High School, Lyndhurst, OH

Pick of the Day: Carter’s Unfocused, One-Track Mind

SLJ — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 14:00:06 +0000

Carter’s Unfocused, One-Track Mind. By Brent Crawford. 7 CDs. 8:06 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2012. ISBN 978-1-61106-285-4. $59.97.
Gr 9 Up–Will Carter returns as a sophomore to Merrian High after summer vacation, and his 15-year-old male hormone induced ADD is at a record high. He’s still in love with Abby, who has been accepted into the prestigious New York Drama School. She encourages Carter to apply, much to the initial dismay of his mother—he’s leaving “just when he is getting fit to live with.” The possibility of moving to New York—and being alone with Abby—catapults Carter’s goldfish-like attention span to become focused on reaching his goals: raising a plummeting GPA (albeit with the help of numerous Saturday detentions) and being accepted at NYDS. A handful of side stories fill in the school year. Amber Lee gives birth (not Carter’s baby); Carter’s sister falls in love with his nemesis, Scary Terry; he and his “boys” form a flight club with one pair of boxing gloves; and the drama geeks thwart the principal’s plans to shut down the controversial musical, Rent. Carter’s internal conversations are cover-your-mouth funny in their perfect blend of male teenage crudeness, hidden vulnerability, and raw honesty. Nick Podehl talent as a voice actor is unmatched, and his narration here is spot-on. Brent Crawford’s terrific novel (Hyperion, 2012) offers listeners a glimpse into the typical mind of a young adult male who can’t remember his own phone number, but knows all the colors of his girlfriend’s bras. A must-have.–Cheryl Preisendorfer, Twinsburg City Schools, OH

Pick of the Day: The Fairy Ring, Or Elsie and Frances Fool the World (CD)

SLJ — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 12:37:37 +0000

The Fairy Ring, Or Elsie and Frances Fool the World. By Mary Losure. 2 CDs. 2:26 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4558-5194-2. $49.97.
Gr 4-8–This is the true tale of Elsie Wright, 15, and Frances Griffith, 9, who concocted a fairy hoax in the early 1900s that grew well beyond their expectations. Tired of being teased by their parents for their stories, Elsie painted and then cut out detailed illustrations of fairies. The girls photographed the “fairies” with themselves in the picture. When Elsie’s mother mentioned at a Theosophist meeting that her daughter had taken a picture of fairies, the hoax quickly escalated. A number of adults, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, promoted the photos as the real deal. Mary Losure’s narrative account does an excellent job of explaining how a childish fabrication became an international sensation in her intriguing book (Candlewick, 2012). Narrator Nicola Barber provides excellent pacing, unique voices for the girls, and an inviting tone that will maintain listeners’ attention. Have the book available so listeners can peruse the fascinating photos and drawing.–Deanna Romriell, Salt Lake City Public Library, UT