FREE RADICALS

Gilli Messer narrates this YA story of Afghan American teenager Mafi Shahin. Mafi struggles to right injustices as “The Ghost,” a secret avenger who addresses her high school classmates’ written pleas for help. Mafi soon discovers others in her life are also keeping secrets, specifically her basketball-playing crush and her father, who denies his Afghan heritage. What should you do when revealing your secrets and avenging wrongs may endanger those you love the most? Messer does an impressive job infusing Mafi with just the right amount of angst mixed with disgust at people’s behavior. Mafi’s struggle to find her place in her family and community is beautifully brought to life by Messer, who clearly remembers what it feels like to be a teenager. L.M.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2023 Best Audiobook © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2023]