JAKE, REINVENTED

Korman taps into teens' desires to be accepted and to reinvent themselves. Jake Garrett has the right clothes, car, and parties, to which everyone is invited, and he uses them all to try to get the girl of his dreams. When his triumph leads to tragedy, Jake is forced on the outside again. Jim Colby is a good match to portray teenagers on the cusp of adulthood. He narrates the social scenes with finesse, and his character differentiation is solid. Colby gives the story's narrator a more neutral tone as it is Rick's purpose to act as observer. This treatment makes the more dramatic characters stand out. J.M.S. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 06/ JAN 07]