FROM THE CUTTING ROOM OF BARNEY KETTLE

Narrator David Vatousios's upbeat tone and brisk pacing perfectly convey the irrepressible nature of Barney, a teenage filmmaker, and his little sister, Ren, as the siblings shoot a documentary about their community. Barney never stops talking, dreaming, and scheming--but with an innocence and exuberance that is infectious. Ren, purposeful, affectionate, and quietly feminist, keeps Barney organized. Vatousios perfectly conveys the energy and sheer likability of the pair, along with the quirky characters who inhabit their downtown neighborhood in Christchurch, New Zealand. The complicated, prickly forbearance of the two homeless teenagers whom Barney and Ren interview is clearly present in Vatousios's voice. The author straddles the line between the tragedy of the 2011 earthquake and the hope of rebuilding and forging a legacy, and Vatousios is faithful to that vision. A.B. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2016]