THE REVOLUTION OF BIRDIE RANDOLPH

Narrator Andrea Laing gives voice to Chicago teen Dove “Birdie” Randolph. While striving for perfection to please her parents, she also bristles at their rigid expectations. Secretly dating a boy her parents would not approve of and becoming close with her estranged aunt, Birdie builds new relationships. When revelations of family secrets shock the teen, she questions her view of everything she knew about herself. Laing’s pleasant voice sounds appropriate for Birdie; however, uneven pacing, when coupled with a flat tone and frequently indistinguishable characters, fails to capture the listener’s attention. Though Laing provides a straightforward performance, her mostly monotone narration makes it easy to miss changes in scenes. A.L.S.M. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2019]