WHAT LANE?

Torrey Maldonado brings warmth and empathy to the narration of his novel about a mixed-race sixth grader named Stephen. Caught between his best friend, Dan, and Dan's racist cousin, as well as trying to integrate his racially segregated friend groups, Stephen is finding it difficult to navigate life amid his growing awareness of the racism around him. Maldonado gives realistically distinct voices to each member of Stephen's diverse group of friends, but his portrayal of Stephen feels the most authentic. While the text is sometimes more didactic than dramatic, Maldonado does a wonderful job portraying Stephen's enthusiasm, and listeners will relate to his changing friendships and feelings of injustice and peer pressure. S.C. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2020]