LONG DIVISION

The audiobook version of the novel by Kiese Laymon explores racism, post- Katrina life in Mississippi and the unintended consequences of time travel. Narrator Sean Crisden can not be faulted for his performance as the young hero, a 14-year-old Black youth with the unique name of Citoyen Coldson who discovers a hole in the woods that allows him to travel through time. His guide is a mysterious book called "Long Division" which hints at the secrets of the universe. But the story is not as elegant or concise as THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE, and tends to bounce around. Crisden is as convincing in his performance as the youth than as the elderly grandmother, or the many other characters in the novel. His range extends from troubled inner-city youth to college-educated adult without missing a beat. The work is certainly interesting, but has the usual logic problems associated with any book about time travel. M.S. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2014]