OSTRICH BOYS

Bruce Mann gets the close camaraderie of three English mates just right. When their friend Ross is killed in an accident, 15-year-old Blake, Sam, and Kenny are disgusted with the funeral’s hypocrisy. Looking for a way to find meaning in what’s happened, the three steal Ross’s ashes and take off for Ross, Scotland, a place their friend had always wanted to go. Mann makes brainy Blake, who tells the story, a convincing character, as are tough Sam and clueless Kenny. Their road trip is marked by missteps, flirting, adventure, and contemplations of life and death. Mann gets maximum mileage from the humor of ribald ribbing, turns up the tension at action moments, and steers towards more serious tones when the boys reveal their fears and secrets. S.W. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2010]