BOY21

Narrator Ben Lukins throws listeners into Finley's hardscrabble life in Belmont, Pennsylvania. Finley loves two things: basketball and his girlfriend, Erin. When his coach asks him to befriend "Boy21," a stellar basketball player who pretends to be from outer space, Finley loses his imperturbable calm. Lukins portrays Finley as a caring introvert who observes and supports Boy21's grief over the murder of his parents. But Lukins's narration doesn't always match the quiet intensity of Quick's story. His rapid delivery makes comprehension difficult, and, while age appropriate, his dialogue voices aren't consistent--in some cases, his pitch drops by an octave or more. Finley is a laid-back teen; however, some of Lukins's delivery goes beyond calm to underacted. A more polished narration would better express the controlled anguish of both characters. C.A. [Published: AUGUST 2014]