Oh My Stars.

OH MY STARS. Lorna Landvik. 2005. Read by Teres Byrne. 12 cds. 15 hrs. Books on Tape. 1-4159-1976-3. $76.80. Vinyl; plot notes. SA

Violet Mathers has had an awful childhood in Kentucky. After getting a job in a thread factory she is just beginning to feel worthy when her arm is caught in a machine and has to be amputated. Despondent, she heads by bus to California. When her bus crashes in North Dakota, it is a blessing in disguise, because two young men who are to become the center of her life come to the rescue. Kjel Hedstrom is white and Austin Sykes black, an unusual combination for the 1930s in the rural Midwest. With Austin's brother, Dallas, they have formed a band called The Pearltones and they charm every audience with their energy and musicianship. Kjel, as kind and empathetic as he is handsome, invites her to travel with the band as their manager. Violet's emergence as a strong and confident woman is the core of the story, but all three characters are so closely bound together that it encompasses the experiences of the band as well.

In a competent semi-voiced presentation, reader Byrne switches between the voice of Violet in her old age and straight narration, delineating the characters and moving the plot along well. (Frequent use of the f word.) Pat Dole, Richmond, VA

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.