A CERTAIN SLANT OF LIGHT

Laura Whitcomb's story transcends earthly boundaries. Helen is a spirit who has been haunting the living for 130 years. In a contemporary Junior English classroom, she meets and falls for James, another spirit, who inhabits the body of a living boy. Lauren Molina's narration is sweet and whispery, but her breathlessness overwhelms, and the overall effect cloys. While her characterizations are youthful and enthusiastic and she has a great child's voice, some of Molina's pronunciations cause moments that are unintentionally comic. Still, as the romance grows more sexually explicit and the human complications become more troublesome, Whitcomb's seductive, often lyrical writing is sure to grab and hold older teens. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 06]