WHERE THE HEART IS

With even pacing and a down-to-earth tone, narrator Jennifer Jill Araya vividly portrays 13-year-old Rachel in the summer before eighth grade. Her longtime best friend, Micah, wants more than just friendship, but Rachel isn't sure if she is attracted to boys at all. Listeners hear Rachel's confusion, frustration, and pain as she comes to terms with her changing friendship with Micah. Araya portrays Rachel with empathy and emotion, but with the exception of her younger sister, Ivy, the other characters are less distinct. There is not a lot of differentiation among Rachel's classmates, and her wealthy neighbor's English accent is unconvincing. Nevertheless, it is Rachel's story, and listeners will eagerly follow her bittersweet coming-of-age. S.C. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2019]