48 SHADES OF BROWN

Sixteen-year-old Dan is trying to survive calculus, living with his cousin, Jacq, and his passion for “goddess” Naomi. Narrator Francis Greenslade portrays Dan's plan to remake himself into Naomi's ideal man, showing with comic effect the difference between Dan's easygoing patter and his inner adolescent anxieties. Teen boys will relish this production’s conversational style and its clever conceit of presenting Dan's dilemma as a scientific experiment. Greenslade's deadpan account of Dan's first parents-free wild party is spot-on. Occasionally, it’s difficult to tell who is speaking in this Australian title, especially during dialogue among numerous characters. However, Greenslade's confident presentation will keep listeners' attention as Dan recounts his unique perspective on teenage social rituals. C.A. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 08]