NAME ALL THE ANIMALS

This could be fiction but, sadly, is not. Through the eyes and voice of 15-year-old Alison, we live through the accidental death of her beloved older brother, Roy, and the three years that follow it. Alison's coping devices include denying herself food, misbehavior at her parochial school, and a lesbian romance. Christina Moore does an outstanding job of getting inside the lonely, guilt-ridden girl without being maudlin. We hear grit as well as grief, humor in the heartbreak (she fails her driver's test twice), and ultimately acceptance. J.B.G. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 04/ JAN 05]