THE GUNNERS

After Sally commits suicide, Mikey Callahan and his childhood group, the Gunners, attempt to reconnect to make sense of her death and their lives. Michael David Axtell's narration is truly wonderful, bringing life to Kauffman's beautiful, unflinching look at friendship, betrayal, love, and forgiveness. As adolescence rears its head, the Gunners--a name they take from the mailbox of an abandoned house where they hang out--are torn apart when Sally suddenly and mysteriously distances herself from all of them. Delivering believable characters with human failings and strengths, Axtell gives each person's story immediacy and makes each motive understandable. As new revelations unfold, Axtell's superb narration adds credibility to Kauffman's exploration of the complexities of the human heart. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2018]