MASSACHUSETTS, CALIFORNIA, TIMBUKTU

There may not be words to describe how good this audio is. Precocious 12-year- old Justine travels cross-country with her loving but totally dysfunctional mother, Colleen, and her younger sister, Rona. As Colleen goes from one abusive man and losing job to another, Justine struggles to keep the family together. Simultaneously, she writes a "pioneer diary" chronicling a wagon trip West in which the mother is totally in charge. Jen Taylor gets inside Justine, exasperatingly ditsy Colleen, whiny Rona, the teasing boys and well-meaning but clueless teachers at school. Just the different ways they say "Justine" tells you volumes about who they are and how Justine sees them. As Colleen sinks into near catatonic depression and the wagon gets mired in snow, the story switches back and forth more rapidly; Taylor, however, never loses control. A wonderful listening experience right to the end. J.B.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 03/JAN 04]