Griffin, Adele. My almost epic summer.GRIFFIN, Adele. My almost epic summer. Read by Jessica Almasy. 3 tapes. 4.5 hrs. Recorded Books. 2006. 1-4193-9455-x. $29.75. Vinyl; plot notes. J From the KLIATT review of the hardcover book, March 2006: "Irene is a highly creative, intelligent 14-year-old who is stuck with a babysitting job during a summer she wishes could be 'epic.' In this delightful story, which borders on being a farce, Irene spends her days with two children who adore a·dore v. a·dored, a·dor·ing, a·dores v.tr. 1. To worship as God or a god. 2. To regard with deep, often rapturous love. See Synonyms at revere1. 3. her even though she is pretty harsh in her treatment of them. An independent, only child of a working single mom, Irene feels that Lainie and Evan would only benefit from some benign neglect benign neglect Decision-making A stance of nonintervention that a clinician may adopt in the face of lesions and clinical conditions which have an uncertain or stable clinical course. Cf Watchful waiting. . They bike to a nearby swimming pool most days, where they meet a gorgeous teenager who calls herself Starla, the lifeguard there. What makes this story different from the usual chick-lit for young teens is Irene's mind. She isn't wise, exactly, but she is smart. Her intelligence and wit are juxtaposed jux·ta·pose tr.v. jux·ta·posed, jux·ta·pos·ing, jux·ta·pos·es To place side by side, especially for comparison or contrast. with Starla's beauty and idiocy IDIOCY, med. jur. That condition of mind, in which the reflective, or all or a part of the affective powers, are either entirely wanting, or are manifested to the least possible extent. 2. Idiocy generally depends upon organic defects. , which Irene monitors on Starla's very own website. There are some wonderful laughs from this website, especially in the poems Starla writes ... an entertaining, lighthearted light·heart·ed adj. Not being burdened by trouble, worry, or care; happy and carefree. See Synonyms at glad1. light story." The audio production is as lighthearted and entertaining as its print companion. Almasy's voice is convincing as Irene. Listeners will hear the subtle changes in her voice as she moves through frustration, anticipation, and discovery as well as the awe she feels when she is around and interacting with Starla. While the different characters are not fully distinct, Lainie's whining is near perfection and Evan's own budding independence is appropriately mixed with his 12-year-old hesitation as he relates with others. Despite the minor drawback DRAWBACK, com. law. An allowance made by the government to merchants on the reexportation of certain imported goods liable to duties, which, in some cases, consists of the whole; in others, of a part of the duties which had been paid upon the importation. of the somewhat prolonged pro·long tr.v. pro·longed, pro·long·ing, pro·longs 1. To lengthen in duration; protract. 2. To lengthen in extent. silences between chapter readings, this is a listening experience that teens will enjoy as Almasy vocally shares with them Irene and her creative and sometimes misunderstood mind. Stephanie Squicciarini, Teen Svcs. Libn., Fairport PL, Fairport, NY J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers. |
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