THE LAST LEAVES FALLING

After being diagnosed with ALS, Japanese teenager Sora struggles to cope with his more limited mobility and increased loneliness, but he finds companionship in the friendships he builds through online chat rooms. Narrator Kris Dyer skillfully distinguishes between chat room users and even manages to convey personality when describing emojis.There's a quality of remove in Dyer's voice as the novel begins and Sora's first-person narration is punctuated by pauses filled with uncertainty. But as Sora opens up to new friends and comes to terms with his emotions, Dyer dissolves this remove, making Sora's voice more conversational and vulnerable. Though Sora's story may be difficult to hear, listeners will become increasingly invested as Dyer's narration adds depth to Sora's journey. E.M.C. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2015]