THE TWYNING

A pair of narrators tackle Blacker's tale of two young street urchins who are trying to save a struggling rat community from annihilation by a mad scientist. Michael Page's brassy voice is endearingly rat-like, and his precision and insight are well suited to the animals' vivid dialogue and thoughts. Nico Evers-Swindell balances childlike intonation and swarthy stubbornness for his human characterizations, and his generous empathy comes in handy for the young protagonists. The story alternates chapters between the human and rat protagonists, and the use of two narrators helps to maintain clarity in the overlapping narratives. All of Blacker's protagonists share a combination of trepidation, determination, and hope in frightening times, and both narrators deliver this blend with acuity. K.S.B. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2014]