LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR

Seventeen-year-old Lola has grown up with two dads and the knowledge that her drug-addicted mother deserted them. It’s not the grim situation that will pull in listeners, but the feisty main character. Shannon McManus lends believability to Lola, who might have come off as a chick-lit stereotype, especially when she falls for her first love, none other than the boy next door. At the story’s opening, McManus shows Lola’s strong character through snarky dialogue that conveys her intelligence and sass. Later, McManus projects a troubled tone that dramatizes Lola’s disturbing thoughts and uncertainty in making difficult decisions about love, acceptance, and self-identity. S.W. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2012]