THE TRYOUT

Ringing school bells and squeaking sneakers augment a full cast as they dramatize the events of the author's seventh-grade year in small-town Texas. It's dominated by the cheer-squad tryout, but typical middle-school concerns--changing bodies and changing friendships--emerge, as well as issues particular to Christina's identity as the only Thai American student in her school. She experiences microaggressions and outright racism. As Christina, Grace Li shines amid the stellar cast. She emits exasperated sighs at every mispronunciation of her surname; expresses worries about fitting in; and bursts into joyful giggles with her Iranian American best friend, who also has an immigrant dad. For this adaptation of her graphic novel, Soontornvat provided a gracefully expanded narrative that ensures an immersive stand-alone listening experience. Gimme a W . . . for WINNER! V.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2023]