THIS BRAVE BALANCE

Dipper and his friends spend all their free time practicing parkour in their German town. The game isn't only the glue that holds them together; it's also the best thing in most of their rough lives. When one of the boys' ex-girlfriend joins the group, things begin to change: friendships, relations with their parents, and their own youthful freedom. Kirby Heyborne dramatizes the youthful arrogance of the boys, the weariness of the working-class mothers, and the charm and worldliness of the slightly older girlfriend. Heyborne's strong, quiet voice also softens a terrifying plot twist. Reh writes about the everyday lives of poor German teens, and Heyborne expertly brings them to life for listeners who live a world away. G.D. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2013]