THE GOD OF WAR

Twelve-year-old Ares Ramirez hates living in a trailer on the edge of town with his unconventional mother and his disabled half-brother. Weighed down by guilt, anger, and incipient adolescence, Ares meets Kevin, a disturbed, potentially dangerous teenager in foster care. Scott Brick's narration of this beautifully written novel turns it from an ordinary coming-of-age story into a soulful dirge. As Ares awakens to the world around him, listeners will appreciate author Marisa Silver's dogged honesty in relating the tempestuous workings of a boy's mind that is burdened with lies, deceptions, and misunderstandings. Brick's performance brings just the right touches of melancholy and self-pity to Ares, highlighting his confusion, fury, longing, and hope. A fine YA or adult offering. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/NOV 08]