SHUT UP, THIS IS SERIOUS

Frankie Corzo narrates this contemporary YA audiobook with sensitivity and verve. Ever since her father left the family, Belén feels like she's been sleepwalking through life. She cuts classes, fails tests, and can't seem to make herself care about anything other than finding a boyfriend and helping her best friend, Leti, deal with an unexpected pregnancy. Corzo skillfully portrays Belén's teenaged disaffection, showing clear signs of the depression and anxiety it masks. She expertly adjusts her tone throughout the story to reveal the emotional complexity of Belén's journey to self-acceptance and healing. Corzo uses a subtly higher and more childlike voice to portray Leti, which is consistent with her strict upbringing and struggles to break free of her parents' control. N.M. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2024]