THE TREES

The phrase "going back to nature" takes on a new, terrifying meaning when the world is torn up by thousands of trees breaking through the earth overnight, cutting through buildings, infrastructure, and people. Ben Onwukwe's elegant British voice has a gritty undertone that befits the parallels of violence and beauty that are prevalent throughout this story. The power shift is palpable as wolves and other dangerous creatures emerge from the changed landscape. Middle-aged Adrien reluctantly accepts the help of the wilderness-loving Hannah and her teenage son, Seb, to find his estranged wife, Michelle, in Ireland. While the American accent for the character of Hiroko, a formidable teenager the trio meets along the way, is unconvincing, Onwukwe shines in his embodiment of Adrien's perpetual fatigue and Hannah's unnerving optimism. E.E. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2017]