IN DARKNESS

Benjamin L. Darcie brings a rich Haitian accent to his performance of this story about Shorty, a teen trapped in a hospital after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Shorty’s grim present bleeds into the past and the story of revolutionary leader Toussaint L’Ouverture. Darcie reads the chapters in the present at a slightly fast pace and the chapters about L’Ouverture a bit more slowly, helping to distinguish between the two time periods—although it takes careful listening to keep them straight. This is partly because Shorty and L’Ouverture seem to share a mystical connection that is perhaps only in Shorty’s mind as he slowly loses his grip on reality. This graphic and occasionally disturbing production isn’t for all YA listeners but will appeal to those looking for something challenging. A.F. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2012]