EXTRA TIME

When Matt, a 14-year-old Australian soccer prodigy, gets a chance to play in the English Premier League, he learns that being a star player may mean having to give up values he holds dear. Morris Gleitzman’s Australian accent enriches his portrayals of Matt and Bridie, his 10-year-old sister and manager, as they try to befriend the English players. Gleitzman brings out the personalities of the characters through his pacing and volume: Bridie’s spunkiness is shown through fast speech, her worried Mum’s voice has a steady softness, and the reserved and observant Matt has a quiet, deliberate pace. Gleitzman’s narration brings out the warmth of the family as well as conveys the excitement of the game, which is further dramatized by the sounds of the roaring crowds at the stadium. M.F. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2013]