TROUBLE

Teenaged Henry's trouble-free existence is shattered when his brother, Franklin, is hit and killed by a car driven by Cambodian refugee Chay Chouan, who is Henry's schoolmate. In his grief Henry decides to head to Mt. Katahdin, in Maine, which he and Franklin had planned to climb together. With a rescued dog and his best friend, Sanborn, Henry sets off to come to terms with what has happened. Jason Culp does a stunning job creating the troika of characters. Henry is trying to make peace with the world. Sanborn, a sardonic rich kid, is fiercely loyal to Henry. Chay, the refugee, is a little too noble to ring true, but his accent and emotions are entirely believable. Culp's timing and tone brighten the humor and darken the grief. A.B. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2008]