THE ART OF ADAPTING

Lana is a newly single mother of two teenagers, Byron and Abby. She has also taken in her brother, Matt, who has Asperger's syndrome. Narrator Lisa Bunting takes on the roles of these family members as they tell their stories in alternating chapters. Bunting convincingly captures the emotions of the characters as they work to overcome their individual problems. Lana is dealing with the loss of her marriage, Matt strives to find ways to cope with his Asperger's, Abby realizes that she has an eating disorder, and Byron makes choices that will affect his future. A few spots of noticeable editing detract from the listening experience. Although Bunting's character voices are inconsistent, she remains engaged with the story. M.M.G. [Published: JANUARY 2016]