THE BURNING GIRL

Narrator Morgan Hallett's lively delivery and believably young voice enliven this coming-of-age story told by Julia, a teenager who is trying to make sense of her best friend Cassie's unspooling. Although they used to be inseparable, the girls barely see each other in middle school after Cassie makes new friends who encourage her to experiment with sex and alcohol. Meanwhile, Julia attempts to overcome her loneliness by getting involved in school activities. Hallett emphasizes Julia's emotional evolution as the teen loses her youthful innocence in the wake of Cassie's abrupt and unexpected abandonment. While Hallett's solid performance cannot overcome the novel's shortcomings, including heavy foreshadowing and unresolved plot lines, overall, she helps listeners key into Julia's transition from confusion and hurt feelings to concern over her friend's well-being. C.B.L. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2017]