Scowler. By Daniel Kraus. 9 CDs. 11:15 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2013. ISBN 978-0-385-36837-7. $45.  Gr 10 Up–It’s the summer of 1981 and 19-year-old Ry Burke, along with his mother and younger sister, are preparing to leave the failing family farm in Kraus’s thriller (Delacorte, 2013). It has been nine years since Ry’s abusive father was sent to prison after committing horrific acts, culminating with a 16-hour chase through the forest in pursuit of his son. Ry survived the ordeal with the help of three toys turned imaginary friends: a teddy bear called Mr. Furrington, a bendy figure of Jesus Christ, and a frightening piece of folk art dubbed Scowler. Back in the present, an approaching meteor shower will have unimaginable consequences for the family, and Ry will once again call upon his protectors as his father returns to exact his revenge. Listeners are treated to a stellar performance by Kirby Heyborne, whose pacing is impressive. He has an incredible ability to convey so much about a character through his choice of voice: the rough speech of Marvin with his cringe-inducing unmelodious humming; the high-pitched and appropriately clichéd British accent for Mr. Furrington; the soft, gentle tone of Jesus Christ; and the garbled nonsensical sounds of Scowler. In the end, what truly stands out is his nuanced portrayal of Ry, whose deteriorating mental state is at the heart of this harrowing, disturbing, and yet completely absorbing story.–Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL