HAZEL'S THEORY OF EVOLUTION

Narrator Kathleen McInerney loses no time in transporting listeners into the complicated world of 13-year-old Hazel Brownlee-Wellington, who is navigating a momentous time in her life. Not only is she leaving her best friend due to school redistricting, but she also is facing the impending birth of a new sibling following two traumatic miscarriages. Also meriting her attention are goat keeping; two schoolmates, one transgender, the other a bully in a wheelchair; and Darwin's theory of evolution. McInerney has much on her plate as Hazel moves at a fast clip and wears every emotion on her sleeve. In addition, multiple supporting characters are given vocal variety: a sympathetic older brother, a perky health and human development teacher, a hesitant new friend, and two empathetic mothers. A.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2019]