LUCY

As she escapes Congo, Jenny Lowe stumbles upon 14-year-old Lucy, the only survivor at a fellow scientist’s camp. Taking Lucy and the scientist’s notebooks, she returns to Chicago, adopts Lucy, and eventually discovers that the teenager is a hybrid—part human, part bonobo. Abby Craden and Kim Mai Guest share the difficult task of bringing this story to life. They attempt to give the characters unique voices, but they are one-dimensional and lacking nuance. In particular, Lucy sounds too mature for a 14-year-old. Further, Jenny’s voice sometimes says Lucy’s lines and vice versa. Although the moral and ethical issues raised require consideration, this book is superficial, shining no light on bioethics. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2010]