THE ISLAND The Island Series, Book 1

On the island, children at the tender age of 10 must throw on the mantle of adulthood and leave their parents behind to start a life of their own at a place called "The Manor," which is run by an older boy. Narrator Coco Bell's childlike voice has an undercurrent of steel that embodies the main character, Leia, a teen who seeks to right the injustices of her world. Bell's calm, even tone keeps pace with the developing twists and turns of this quick listen, teasing out the intrigue without letting it become too grim. She deftly portrays Leia as a young person who has seen far more than she should yet remains optimistic about the future. E.E. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2015]