ULTRAVIOLET

When Alison wakes up in a mental hospital, she has no idea where she is or how she got there. What she does remember is that after a violent exchange with Tori, her archrival, Tori disintegrated before her eyes. Narrator Justine Eyre’s youthful voice has a sharp, reedy texture that fits 16-year-old Alison. Alison’s sensory peculiarities—sounds taste like flavors; numbers become colors—and Anderson’s startling plot leap—from a story of young girl’s offbeat reality to an unexpected science fiction tale—are convincing and gratifying, thanks to Eyre’s truthful performance. A persuasive explanation of the glitch in Alison’s neural net, what became of Tori, and what lies ahead for Ali, combined with Eyre’s credible narration, make this a thrilling listen for older teens. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2012]