TEASE

Julia Whelan’s portrayal of first-person narrator Sara Wharton may make listeners uncomfortable. Whelan leads them inside the psyche of a 16-year-old “mean girl” who is so entrenched in defending her bullying that she can’t accept the slightest responsibility for actions that have led to a classmate’s suicide. As Whelan voices Sara’s self-pity and indignation at being named in a lawsuit, her reading is so convincing and the details so well wrought that listeners may have to take an audio break. Don’t quit! A fuller portrait emerges near the end, providing a much needed resolution. Gradually, Whelan expresses the hurt and fear that lurk below Sara’s cruel actions, allowing listeners to feel compassion as the remorseful protagonist, surprisingly, becomes a sympathetic character. S.W. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2014]