THE ORCHARD ON FIRE

In this novel looking back on an English childhood, short-listed for the Booker Prize in 1996, 9-year-old April Harlance becomes best friends with Ruby, whose parents run the local pub. It's a hard-knock life. Money is scarce, Ruby's father is a batterer, and her mother a shrew. April's parents, who are pedaling as fast as they can, running the village tearoom, fail to notice that nice Mr. Greenwich, with the cute dog and sick wife, is making creepy advances to April whenever possible. Rachel Atkins's performance couldn't be better. Unfortunately, the quality of the recording could; the review copy sounded as if it had been taped underwater. B.G. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 01]