THE LAST WILD

Narrator Oliver Hembrough gives voice to the thoughts of Kester, a mute teen who is incarcerated. Kester realizes that he can communicate with the last remnants of wildlife in a world in which nearly all creatures have died from the deadly red-eye virus. A group of animals helps him escape and looks to him as the savior of "the last wild." Hembrough's dynamic narration adds suspense, even when the story occasionally becomes predictable. His performance features two standout characters, a befuddled white pigeon who squawks jumbled commentary and a cockroach who gruffly barks militaristic orders as he rides safely in Kester's pocket. Hembrough's English accent suits this dystopian adventure, which is peppered with British words that are uncommon in the American lexicon. L.T. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2014]