NIGHT ROAD

When Lexie Baill and Mia Farraday become friends on their first day of high school, their lives are forever changed. But the full consequences of their friendship—and the accident that occurs at the end of their senior year—won’t be fully felt until years later. Kathleen McInerney’s narration, which alternates between the viewpoints of Mia’s mother and Lexie, at once captures the excitement and feelings of indestructibility of youth and the anxiety of a parent watching over almost-adult children. McInerney portrays the girls with higher-pitched voices that capture the essence of the teenager’s love of drama. Mia’s mother is given a deeper, more mature voice. The depiction of the girls’ friendship is the most authentic aspect of this book. As the story becomes melodramatic, McInerney’s consistent narration holds the unraveling threads together. E.N. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2011]