KING DORK

For a dork, Tom Henderson is a savvy observer of teen life. He has more than a little contempt for THE CATCHER IN THE RYE and the teen readers who idolize it. But when Tom finds his dead father's copy, he finds himself involved in a mystery. Portman has written an intelligent YA novel with a smart protagonist. Lincoln Hoppe makes Portman's protagonist interesting and gives him a wry sense of humor. Engaging and youthful, Hoppe helps make Tom sound like a guy you wouldn't mind hanging out with. While Hoppe doesn't make widely distinct variations for other characters, his reading of Tom impersonating friends and family is enjoyable. J.M.S. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 06]