BIRDLAND

It's winter break, and Jed's family continues to grieve the death of his older brother, Zeke, from complications of diabetes. Zeke was a poet, a lover of jazz (especially Charlie "Bird" Parker), and of life on the edge. Thanks to a found and treasured journal of his brother's poetry, Jed is now seeing the world through Zeke's eyes. This production is an example of how an audiobook can surpass its print parent. Dion Graham's first-person narration captures the grief, confusion, and search for meaning that Jed wrestles with. Along with the jazz licks that introduce and conclude the story, he brings to life a novel that doesn't fully breathe on the page. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/ JUL 06]