Phenomenal by Leigh Ann Henion

I wrote this review for Library Journal Magazine. 

Henion, Leigh Ann. Phenomenal. 9 CDs. Unabridged. 10 hours 30 minutes. Books on Tape. 2015. ISBN 9781101887783 $34.95.

The story begins with Henion, and the birth of her son. After suffering what seems like postpartum depression, but is described as being "deeply shaken by the birth of her beloved son", she goes out to seek wanders. Seeing such things as phosphorescence off Vieques Island or a volcanic eruption in Hawaii as she travels the world. She begins to see that having a family does not mean the end of her independence or wanderlust.

Henion, a Lowell Thomas Award winner, has contributed to articles in the Washington Post Magazine, the Smithsonian, and Oxford America. She was relieved an Artist Fellowship in 2013 from the North Carolina's Art Council. 

Narrater Nicol Zanzarella, also a Trenton Film Festival Nominee, does a decent job working with the material she was given, showing inflection when she can, but coming off sounding like a computer in the end. 

I personally would not recommend this book, however,  fans of Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love, may find this book interesting or folks who enjoyed Wild by Cheryl Strayed might pick it up.

Uncaged by John Sandford and Michele Cook

I wrote this for Library Journal Magazine

Sandford, John and Cook, Michele. Uncaged. 10 CDs. Unabridged. 11 hours 44 minutes. Books On Tape Listening Library. 2014. ISBN 9780553395501 $45.00.

Bouncing from home to home in the Foster Care system, Shay Remby has had to worry about herself and her Autistic, but brilliant brother Odin. Then Odin calls Shay in the middle of the night distressed and talking about horrible experiments of a company he and some animal rights activist hit, and that he has to disappear with one of the experiments, a dog, for a while. When the police who are not exactly police come looking for Odin, Shay knows she must find him before they do. 

John Sandford, who is the author of the adult Prey novels, begins his venture into young adult novels with this book. He does an excellent job of keeping the pace going. This novel is also Michele Cook's first Young adult book. Narrator Tara Sands does a wonderful job voicing the main character Shay, she is able to get teenage sarcasm down perfectly.   

Readers' who enjoyed D.J. MacHale's Sylo series will want to give this story a try. 

Storm by DJ MacHale

This was a review I wrote for Library Journal Magazine. 

MacHale, D.J. Storm. 10 CDs. Unabridged. 12 hours 13 minutes. Dreamscape. 2014. ISBN 9781629233727 $59.99.

The second novel in the Sylo Chronicles, Storm picks up where Sylo left off, Tucker, Tori, Kent, and Olivia had survived the sea battle between Sylo and the mysterious black planes; and finally made it to the main land only to discover that there is no one there! Things are not always as they seem though as little by little the group begin to find survivors of the attack, including Jonathan a hospital worker who introduces them to a mysterious radio message. After decoding the message, the group decides to head to Nevada, but along the way they run into danger; and Tucker discovers that there may be a traitor in his group of friends.

MacHale does it again, he manages to grab the reader and not let go until the very last page. He creates such a gripping thriller that it is hard not to get sucked in.

Andrew Bates returns as narrator, and continues to draw the listener into Tucker’s world with his talent.

Readers who enjoyed Sylo will find that this story does not disappoint.

Tilt by Ellen Hopkins

This was an audiobook review that I wrote for Library Journal magazine 

Hopkins, Ellen. Tilt. 7 CDs. Unabridged. 8 hours. Audioworks. 2014. ISBN 9781442368118 $29.99.

Teens Mikayla, Shane, and Harley’s, the teen characters who were introduced in Hopkin’s adult novel “Triangles”, world is changing. Mikayla thought she found her true love with Dylan, but that changes quickly when one night of carelessness turns into a lifetime commitment. Harley, has always been the good girl, but after changing her looks and behavior she finds herself unknowingly in way over her head. Shane, who has come out, finds his first love Alex, who is HIV positive, online. However amidst the joys of first love, Shane experiences the loss of his four year old sister, which then causes him to spiral out of control.

Hopkins is the author of several bestselling books such as Crank, Triangles, Glass, and much more. This novel is written as a narrative, and not in her signature poetry as the Crank series was. Hopkins has never held any punches back when it comes to the reality and grittiness of life of her characters in her books, and Tilt is no different.

The audiobook is narrated by three different narrators, Kirby Heyborne, who has received an Odyssey Award, Madeleine Maby, who has worked with several theater companies, and Rebekkah Ross who stars on a web series. Having multiple narrators is always nice because it is easier to keep track of who is talking on the audiobook. These three did a fantastic job of making Mikayla, Shane, and Harley come alive.

Hopkins fans will pick up this book without a second thought, but others readers/listeners who enjoy gritty realistic teen books will want to give this a try as well.

Mess: One Man's Struggle to Clean Up His House and His Act by Barry Yourgrau

This was a review I wrote for Library Journal Magazine. 

Yourgrau, Barry. Mess: One Man's Struggle to Clean Up His House and His Act. 8 CDs. Unabridged. 9 hours 5 minutes. Dreamscape. 2015. ISBN 9781681414027 $49.99.

Barry's girlfriend has given him an ultimatum, clean up your mess or else. A self proclaimed clutterbug, Barry has been keeping odds and ends of all types- from a broken vaccum cleaner he will eventually fix to many many bags. Turning this into a writing project Barry decides to document his journey of decluttering, with before and after photos of his messes. The author goes on the examine packrats and horders throughout time from Mark Twain's Bleak House to the folks of Socrates' era. Talking with various shrinks, Ron the "disaster master", and Clutterers Anonymous, Barry looks at the different reasons why people may keep their items. With a failure to launch type situation, Barry over thinks his workflow, but with inspiration from Cheryl Mendelson's book "Home Comforts" Barry finally starts to chip away at his clutter. 

Yourgrau, born in South Africa, has penned other novels including "Haunted Traveller" and "A Man Jumps Out of An Airplane". He has won a Drama-Logue award for "Wearing Dad's Head." He also appeared in the film version of his novel "The Sadness of Sex." He splits his time between New York and Istanbul. 

Narrated by Peter Brooke, who has voiced numerous audiobooks in his career, has a very pleasant voice. Reading smoothly, Barry, his girlfriend Cosima/Medea/Prunella, and an abundance of secondary characters, Brooke speaks clearly and the sounds quality does not have that "phoning it in" feeling that some audiobooks will have. 

Folks who enjoy watching the TV Show Hoarders, will find this an interesting read, especially if they are looking for a psychological reasoning behind a persons "mess".