ULTRAVIOLET

Narrator Alejandro Antonio Ruiz dazzles listeners with their vocal range and agility. Ruiz convincingly portrays characters of different ages and genders, displaying an impressive command over their versatile voice. Eighth-grader Elio Solis has become more aware of his body, emotions, and female classmates. He feels his world has become radiantly ultraviolet when his classmate Camelia agrees to be his girlfriend. His joy soon turns to anger when she betrays him. Luckily, Elio's loving family encourages his emotional maturity, teaching him about puberty, toxic masculinity, consent, and life in general while embracing their Mexican American heritage. Ruiz proves to be a master narrator with impressive vocal talent. They rise to the challenge of successfully conveying a wide range of emotions. A.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2024]