RUIN ROAD

JD Jackson's deep, strong voice captures the confidence of Cade Webster, one of few Black students at his prep school and a talented football receiver on an athletic scholarship. Jackson's robust narration shows Cade's strong desire for fame, which would allow his family to escape a neighborhood beset by gangs and poverty. When Cade comes across a curious pawn shop, he buys a replica Super Bowl ring and makes a wish that changes everything. As he faces the man behind the magic, a slumlord who rules his neighborhood, Jackson's voice remains powerful. In this complex performance, Jackson balances scary supernatural elements with Cade's emotions at his father's death and the racism and classism around him. S.W. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2024]