HOUSE RULES

Only a full cast of narrators could effectively deliver the intensity of Picoult's horrifying story of a teenage boy with Asperger's syndrome (autism) who is accused of a brutal murder. Compelling to the last word, the novel is an emotionally powerful depiction of how a family is affected by autism—daily and in crisis. Whether our legal system fairly serves those who think and communicate differently is a question asked throughout. Mark Turetsky flawlessly portrays both Jacob Hunt's brilliance and his limitations. Nicole Poole grasps the heroic character of Jacob’s mother with an articulate, perceptive, and resigned vocal nuance. Andy Paris delivers the tones of Jacob’s “normal" teenage brother—neutral yet warm. Righteous and compassionate, complex and spellbinding—HOUSE RULES is another Picoult gift of wonder. A.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2010]