WILD THINGS

Elizabeth Morton dramatizes 11-year-old Zoë Royster with a smart, sassy voice. After the death of her mentally ill mother, Zoë finds herself living with her uncle, a sculptor, who she believes is more interested in his work than in her. Morton's snappy comments fully convince listeners of Zoë's pessimism, born out of years of taking care of her mother and her string of irresponsible boyfriends. Morton subtly changes her tone as Zoë learns to trust the adults in her life. Periodically, Nicole Poole inserts vignettes by “Mr. C'mere,” the aging feral cat Zoë seeks to tame. Poole's mature voice fits him in terms of his age and instinctive appreciation of Zoë. As the story depicts the many meanings of "wild things," the narrators enliven all the characters Zoë comes to love. S.W. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2010]