RUNAWAY BLUES

Narrator Ian M. Hawkins introduces 12-year-old Caleb Wallace in this coming-of-age story, which also focuses on dementia. Listeners accompany Caleb to visit his grandad, Clem, a bluesman who lives in a Virginia care home. Hawkins skillfully renders Grandad's mental confusion and endearing Caleb, who enjoys his grandfather's stories of the old days, when he met legend Robert Johnson and saw his famous harmonica, which he gave to Grandad's brother in Arkansas. Realistic descriptions of the home and Grandad playing his guitar are memorable, but most evocative is the bus trip the runaway pair make to Arkansas to "visit" the harmonica. The plausible conclusion makes this a must-listen for those of all ages. S.G.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2021]