SHADOWS OF GLASS The Ashes, Book 2

Nicola Barber narrates as teenager Wren struggles to survive in her dystopian world. Though Barber sounds a little young for the 16-year-old protagonist, her high pitch and use of pauses convey fear, confusion, and wonder as Wren and her friends navigate the world outside the dome, learning vital skills from their new American friends. High sound quality highlights Barber's smooth performance as she transitions between the various characters, giving each distinct voices and accents, with modulated tones that easily differentiate the males and females. Her clear, rapid reading heightens the urgency of the action scenes, and her intonations effectively communicate moments of teen awkwardness with the opposite sex. At the end, her delivery smoothes over the story's dramatic but somewhat abrupt closing. M.F. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2013]