WILLOW

Hoban's poignant and sometimes-disturbing novel centers on Willow, a teenage girl who copes with the death of her parents by repeatedly slicing her skin with razor blades. Even though this book ultimately becomes a gentle teenage love story, Willow's vivid descriptions of cutting herself and the depictions of her emotional mind-set during these moments provide the foundation of this novel. Kim Ulrich's voice naturally quivers and breaks frequently, characteristics that work well for Willow, a grief-stricken, insecure 17-year-old. However, utilizing more confident, mature-sounding voices for the adult characters and for Willow's boyfriend would have greatly enhanced this production. Overall, Ulrich is adept at giving voice to a teenager in crisis and describing the emotional complexities of cutting. Listeners should be prepared to hear graphic depictions of cutting and teenage sex, as well as mild profanity. A.R.H. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2009]