Sticks and Stones: Defeating the Culture of Bullying and Rediscovering the Power of Character and Empathy
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Emily Bazelon, read by Rebecca Lowman. Random House Audio, unabridged, nine CDs, 11 hrs., $40 ISBN 978-0-385-36279-5
Providing a nuanced understanding of bullying, Bazelon explores the lives of three young adults deeply affected by this enduring and important social issue. The author considers meaningful ways of addressing and reducing the negative impact of bullying, and though she does not provide easy answers, she does help provide a better understanding of a complex problem. Narrator Rebecca Lowman captures the spirit of the author’s text throughout this audio production. Lowman provides matter-of-fact delivery, excellent pacing, and smooth transitions. She avoids melodrama, particularly in passages describing episodes of bullying, and provides distinct voices for the people—both young and old, male and female—quoted in the text. A Random House hardcover. (Feb.)
Animal Wise: The Thoughts and Emotions of Our Fellow Creatures
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Virginia Morrell, read by Kirsten Potter. Random House Audio, unabridged, nine CDs, 11 hrs., $40 ISBN 978-0-307-97073-2
Morrell takes listeners on a tour the animal kingdom from ants and fish to elephants and chimps, exploring the wide range of research that shows the common traits humans share with animals, and rectifying common misconceptions about animal intelligence or the lack thereof. With an air of authority and a hint of sternness, Kristen Potter captures the tone and style of Morrell exceptionally well. Potter’s straight and serious reading doesn’t provide room for humor—instead she urges listeners to seriously consider the complexity of animals and the ways in which they are similar to human beings. Potter’s deliberate tone makes it easy to listen to the book’s complex information. And the narrator’s congenial and conversational manner matches that of Morrell’s prose, capturing and maintaining listener attention from beginning to end. A Crown hardcover. (Feb.)
Bad Pharma: How Drug Companies Mislead Doctors and Harm Patients
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Ben Goldacre, read by Jonathan Cowley. Tantor Media, unabridged, 10 CDs, 12 hrs., $44.99 ISBN 978-1-4526-1169-3
In his latest, British physician and author Goldacre tackles the misdeeds of the pharmaceutical industry. As Goldacre presents a laundry list of flawed research projects, narrator Jonathan Cowley handles the author’s academic style with ease, never missing a beat. His precise annunciation matches the seriousness of the issues at hand, and he successfully balances the shifting tones of the narrative. Yet, as Goldacre recounts his adventures uncovering greed and corruption, Cowley ably takes on the author’s populist persona. Cowley especially entertains in sections devoted to industry schmoozing and networking, providing doses of humor to help bring home the author’s underlying messages. And if technical and scientific sections of the book make for a sometimes-demanding listening experience, Cowley’s winning reading helps broaden the appeal. A Faber & Faber hardcover. (Feb.)
The Turncoat: Renegades of the Revolution
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Donna Thorland, read by Madeleine Lambert. AudioGO, unabridged, nine CDs, 10.25 hrs., $29.95 ISBN 978-1620647165
Through a quick turn of events, rebel Kate Grey's calm village life becomes enveloped by deceit, espionage, and violence. Worse still, she is in love with a loyal British soldier. As the British occupy Philadelphia and look to make advances on George Washington's army, Kate increasingly finds herself balancing duty and desire, all the while working to evade capture. For most of this audio edition, Madeleine Lambert offers up narration that feels aloof and distant—though her performance is more nuanced during romantic scenes. And while the voices she lends the characters are unique and vivid, at times they don't ring true. But, despite these flaws, the overall production will be an entertaining listen for fans of period romance. A NAL trade paperback. (Mar.)
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