TENDERNESS

Jennifer Ikeda delivers a moving interpretation of Cormier's psychological thriller, published in 1997, about 18-year-old Eric Porter, a serial killer, and Lori, the 15-year-old girl who falls in love with him. Eric and Lori's haunting story unfolds in alternating chapters as each searches for his or her own personal, albeit disturbing, definition of tenderness. This compelling story translates well to audio. Ikeda's youthful voice conveys the flux of emotions, while exposing both characters’ severe emotional dysfunction. Listeners will appreciate Ikeda's timing as she allows the story's suspense to build until to its unforgettable conclusion. The subtle suggestions of sexual abuse and incest are just as unsettling as the more graphically detailed offerings of other current young adult thrillers. L.A.C. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2009]