DEFINING DULCIE

Jennifer Ikeda leads the listener on Dulcie's road trip of discovery from California, where she and her mom have just moved, back home to her grandfather in Connecticut. Ikeda's youthful, understated voice conveys Dulcie's thoughts as she deals with her father's sudden death and her friend Roxanne's abusive mother. Ikeda's unhurried pacing evokes the folksy vignettes of Dulcie's cross-country drive and the quirks of her work as a high school student janitor. While Ikeda imbues the conflict between Roxanne and her mother with some drama, the production never loses the calm, idyllic quality that transcends even pain and loss. Ikeda does have a persistent sibilance that, while noticeable, should not prevent listening. Overall, this is an unusual story made accessible by a thoughtful narrator. C.A. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 07]