GUITAR BOY

Life changes dramatically for 13-year-old Travis when his mother suffers a traumatic brain injury in a car accident. When his father kicks him out of the house, his music connects him with responsible adults who serve as mentors and help him find a way to save his family. Listeners may find that the surprisingly smooth week Travis has on his own and the story’s rosy ending lack credibility. But David Baker’s narration will pull them in, nonetheless, and have them rooting for this plucky, resourceful boy. Baker’s straightforward delivery emphasizes the hard-scrabble, community-centered existence of mountain life. Snatches of gospel songs, including guitar strumming, serve as transitions between chapters and add atmosphere to Travis’s redemptive story. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2010]