LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI

The search for self in adolescence is torturous, comical, clumsy and universal. Australian teen Josephine Alibrandi's pursuit is no exception. She's a brilliant, insightful, under-privileged 17-year-old minority student in a wealthy Catholic high school who also has the significant disadvantage of being illegitimate. Marcella Russo performs Josie's sassy first-person narrative with such dexterity and ease that her character blossoms before us. The listener becomes her closest confidante as she whispers her secrets, groans in despair, crows in triumph, cries in grief, all with enormous authenticity. Of extraordinary note is Russo's adept reading of Josie's Italian Nonna, with her thick accent, sharp edges, deeply held secrets and great passion for Josie. Some lack of clarity in the recording is the only detraction here. T.B. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 00]