HIS FAVORITES

Narrator Gabra Zackman infuses this story of quiet sexual violence with perfectly pitched numbness and despair. In the summer of 1978, a reckless prank goes terribly wrong, resulting in the death of 15-year-old Jo's best friend. Lost and emotionally numb, Jo retreats to a posh boarding school, where she attracts the attention of popular Master Aikens, who is known to bestow unwanted sexual favors on his "favorites." Jo's efforts to seek help are predictably but devastatingly met with a chilling dismissiveness that reverberates for years to come. Zackman's understated delivery complements the book's bleak atmosphere, allowing the casual cruelty of Master, the school administrators, and Jo's classmates to surface without interference or adornment. A timely story that weighs heavily despite its brevity. S.A.H. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2018]