THE EDGE

Jerome Pride brings especially difficult characters to life in this fine Young Adult novel about abuse, bigotry, and coming-of-age. The story is written in chapters of alternating points of view, often giving each character's differing perspectives on the same event. Pride becomes teenager Danny and his abused mother, Cathy, making listeners feel their terror as they escape from Chris, her psychotic abusive ex-husband. We hear Chris's side, as well, his self-delusions and his brutality as Pride shows his dark menace. There are a host of other fascinating people, young and old, and Pride invests them all with something vital. Short-listed for the 2003 Carnegie Medal, the audiobook offers strong writing, powerful honesty, and Pride's excellent performance. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/ MAY 06]