Friday, April 22, 2011

YA-Amazing Audio

The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had by Kristin Levine, read by Kirby Heyborne. Listening Library, 2010. 7 hours, 9 minutes, 6 discs   5Q 5P MJS

Dit and Emma form an unlikely friendship in spite of the tension of the racially divided South of 1917.  Dit is hoping for a summer of fun and that the new post master has a 12 year old son who would like to be a his new best friend.  He wants a new best friend that will shoot animals with a sling shot and fish everyday.   Dit is sadden when a girl steps off the train wearing patent leather shoes, a beautiful dress with a  matching ribbon in her hair along with her mother and father-his dreams for the summer are ruined.  Emma and her parents are African American and they meet resistance from some of the town folks.  Because Dit and Emma share a yard, Dit takes this brainy girl under his wing.  Slowly they begin to trust each other and form a friendship.  But Dit and Emma uncover some interesting family ties among the town folks.  They risk their lives and those of their families to right an injustice.  Through it all Dit and Emma develop their first feelings of love only to have it end too soon.

Kirby Heyborne's reading of this story makes it one of the 2011 Top Ten Amazing Audio Books.  His voice is soft and soothing with just the right amount of a southern lilt to make the story feel authentic.  This is one that should be listened to and enjoyed.

40 Developmental Assets:  1,2,3,4,14,15,27,28,29,30,32,33,34.35

No comments:

Post a Comment