CROSSING JORDAN

This coming-of-age story features two girls, one black and one white, and works on many levels. Cass, a 12-year-old white girl, and her new African-American neighbor, Jemmy, forge a bond when they discover their mutual love of running. Both Jemmy's mother, a nurse, and Cass's father, a struggling laborer, harbor grudges over past perceived injustices and refuse to let the girls be friends. The author's narration captures the emotional seesaw of adolescence and fittingly portrays characters of other ages with various accents. Her restrained approach contributes to the characters' credibility and complexity. This enjoyable performance could serve as a good starting point for a discussion about prejudice. M.H.N. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2010]