THE LOUD SILENCE OF FRANCINE GREEN

Francine is in eighth grade at a rigid Catholic school from August 1949 through June 1950. Sophia, a transfer student from public school, becomes her best friend. Sophia is full of opinions, and not afraid to voice them. Good historical fiction breathes life into an era by peopling it with realistic characters living on history's stage. Cushman is a master at creating introspective female characters that middle school girls can admire. In Anaka Shockley's portrayal of Francine, the listener hears her voice grow and strengthen as the shadow of McCarthyism grows darker. Shockley uses cadence and slang to place us firmly in a specific historical period while depicting young people whom today's youth can recognize. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/ MAY 07]