SMILES TO GO

Jerry Spinelli and Conor Donovan combine to create an appealing and authentic character in Will Tuppence. Will is a regular but offbeat kid. He's good at science and chess, has an annoying younger sister, and key to his social life are regular weekend Monopoly nights with best friends Mi-Su and BT. Will's sense of comfort and permanency are shaken when he learns that scientists have discovered the first evidence of proton decay. Donovan is absolutely convincing as a teenager with a voice containing both wonder and a self-questioning edge. Perfect pacing reflects various plot points--fear over a family tragedy, confusion about whether Mi-Su could be more than a friend, and the calm that comes with learning to accept that not everything in life can be controlled. A.B. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2008]