THE WAY HOME

George Pelecanos rips a life, actually several lives, from a Washington, DC, ghetto and lays them bare for everyone to see—and understand. Christopher Flynn is a confused white kid with a chip on his shoulder and a bleak future. Despite the odds, he changes his life for the better after a stint in juvenile hall. But trouble comes knocking when a friend finds a bag of money. Reader Dion Graham pulls the listener into the story with his earnest delivery and streetwise patter. Graham gives each character a distinctive voice, even managing to talk like a white kid trying to talk like a black kid. His work is as engaging and powerful as the book, a perfect pairing. M.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2009]