MID-AIR

Landon Woodson's high-speed narration creates immediacy as best friends Drew, Darius, and Isaiah attempt to set a new BMX bike record. Eighth-grader Isaiah admits he's not a daredevil like his buddies, but, as Woodson's fever-pitched delivery shows, he's consumed by the effort. Suddenly, Darius is killed in a terrible accident, and Woodson's voice becomes subdued and somber as grief envelops sensitive Isaiah and continues after he's beaten up by racists. When he's sent to relatives in the South for healing, Woodson reflects Isaiah's vulnerability and, eventually, new way of being. By the end, Woodson shows Isaiah's healing and shift to a more mature outlook. Throughout, Woodson's narration honors the verse structure of the story, supporting all its rhythms. S.W. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2024]