THE GHOSTS WE KEEP

Ian Alexander thoughtfully narrates this YA novel about Liam, a nonbinary teen whose older brother, Ethan, has just died. They're struggling to return to normal life, especially since their two best friends have little patience for their grief. They start hanging out with Ethan's best friend instead, a friendship that brings them unexpected comfort. Alexander's voice carries a full spectrum of emotions. At one point, Liam breaks down crying; in another scene, they explode with rage. The emotional intensity of everything Liam is going through is ever-present in Alexander's narration. Their secondary character voices sometimes sound a bit forced compared with the rawness they use to portray Liam, but that doesn't detract much from their overall performance of this powerful audiobook about grief and healing. L.S. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2021]