ESCAPING THE GIANT WAVE

When 13-year-old Kyle goes to the Oregon shore for a family vacation, little does he realize that disaster awaits. While babysitting his little sister, BeeBee, he must contend with a bullying classmate who is also on the trip, a wild storm, a fire in their ramshackle hotel, and an unexpected tsunami that swamps the coastline. Though Terry Bregy’s tone is pleasant, his voice is not convincing as that of a stressed teenager who is facing multiple calamities. Breghy sounds earnest, grandfatherly, and occasionally sanctimonious—qualities that may be attributed in part to an improbable, clichéd plot. Despite these shortcomings, the listener does want to learn what happens to Kyle and his family. M.H.N. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2009]