THINGS THAT ARE

Clements has a gift for creating likable kids, so listeners will most likely be able to forgive the farfetched plot in this follow-up to THINGS NOT SEEN. Jennifer Ikeda nails her portrayal of Alicia, a blind teenager who befriends Bobby, a young man she bumps into at the library—who just happens to be invisible. Ikeda does a superb job portraying Alicia's struggle with her blindness, the emotions of first love, and her fear when Bobby inadvertently brings home another invisible man. Ikeda’s heartfelt emotions as Alicia ponders her first kiss, practicing on her own arm, sound completely real and poignant. Somehow it all works—the characters are so charming listeners can't help rooting for them. D.G. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2009]