THE GLASS BOX

Stacy Gonzalez performs a dystopian novel set in a near-future America in which government-sponsored counseling centers treat radical behavior. Riley continues her family's practice of speaking out in the face of injustice and winds up in an renewal center for mandatory reeducation. Gonzalez imbues her performance with a surprising brightness that contrasts with the anxiety-inducing psychological elements of this novel. She gives each character a unique voice, especially Riley's mother, who has a gentle Irish lilt. The story is slow at first, but Riley's time in the renewal center is intriguing, especially when she befriends a silent but violent inmate known as Frankenstein. The narration and the endearing cast of characters are woven into an emotionally resonant journey. J.M.M. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2024]