BIRTHDAY

Best friends Morgan and Eric were born on the same day, and this poignant audiobook follows their changing relationship through six years of mutual birthdays. Dana Levinson's sensitive, steady narration grounds listeners amid the characters' adolescent upheaval. As Eric faces growing family discord, Morgan aches to live into her transgender identity, and as their love for each other evolves, Levinson underscores each moment with unvarnished immediacy. Though her attempt at a soft Tennessee twang is not particularly convincing, it establishes a sense of the story's Appalachian setting. The audiobook concludes with an informal discussion between Levinson and the author in which they offer insights into the characters, share their own experiences as trans women, and recommend additional stories for listeners to explore. R.A.H. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2019]