FAT VAMPIRE

Doug Lee is an overweight dork nicknamed “Meatball”—and he’ll stay that way forever because he’s just become a vampire. Narrator Kirby Heyborne highlights the abundant humor and irony in Doug’s situation. Heyborne’s ability to create teen voices helps him distinguish a large cast of youthful characters through nuances of pace and pitch, which keep them—and the plotline—straight for listeners. Whether portraying serious, well-meaning Indian exchange student Sejal (Doug’s love interest), Doug’s jaded vampire mentor, or the 15-year-old fat vampire himself, Heyborne’s narration adds dimension to the story. Doug bumbles along, neither the story’s hero nor its victim, earning both exasperation and compassion from listeners. Rex’s offbeat story encourages listeners to think in new ways about teenagers, vampires, and the problems of immortality. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2010]