IRISES

Kate and Mary Romero live in present-day El Paso, but their father, a minister, has isolated them from modern temptations, including the Internet. When he dies unexpectedly, the teenagers are left alone to cope with the outside world; take care of their mother, who is in a persistent vegetative state; and decide on their futures. Narrator Carrington MacDuffie's expressive reading is a good match for Kate and Mary, who are each struggling with different aspects of religious faith, family obligations, and personal ambition. However, MacDuffie's mostly neutral accent makes it difficult for listeners to remember that the Romeros are Latinos, and her vocalizations of older men are not strong. Further, one hears a tone of whininess in the girls' dialogue, which is slightly off-putting. C.B.L. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2012]