THE LAST BOY Mickey Mantle and the End of America's Childhood

Leavy chooses 20 days in Mantle's sublime career to profile the '50s icon who was on par with Elvis in his fame and the adoration of his fans. Leavy herself provides an outstanding narration of the preface. Narrator John Bedford Lloyd handles the remaining text commendably. His Southern accent makes Mantle appealing, real, and human. Major and minor characters are distinctive, sometimes funny, and always believable. Joe DiMaggio, in particular, is revealed as unlikable and blatantly jealous of Mantle. The combination of Mantle’s talent and self-destructiveness is poignant. The behavior of his teammates toward him, loyal and enabling, is both disturbing and moving. This is a biography that lends itself perfectly to being told. S.G.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2010]