I Get Judge-y About Audiobooks, Junior

Okay, you've all devoured my thoughts about the Narration By Author or Authors category in the upcoming Audies Awards, but never fear! My Armchair Audies work continues. I also listened to all of the books in the Teens category, and what a strong category is was. Check out the nominees:

Teens To Category List PICK-UP GAME: A Full Day of Full CourtMarc Aronson, Charles R. Smith Jr. Read by Dion Graham Bernstine, Quincy Tyler (Brilliance Audio/ Candlewick) Read the review
CHIMEFranny Billingsley Read by Susan Duerden (Listening Library) Read the review
OKAY FOR NOWGary D. Schmidt Read by Lincoln Hoppe (Listening Library) Read the review
THE WAKE OF THE LORELEI LEE: Being an Account of the Adventures of Jacky Faber, on Her Way to Botany BayL.A. Meyer Read by Katherine Kellgren (Listen & Live Audio) Read the review
BEAUTY QUEENSLibba Bray Read by Libba Bray (Scholastic Audiobooks) Read the review

I already talked in more detail about Libba Bray, L.A. Meyer, Gary D. Schmidt, and Franny Billingsley, so let me start with the stories edited by Marc Aronson and Charles R. Smith, Jr. Pick-Up Game is a tightly constructed series of interwoven stories by different writers, linked by poems and photos of the basketball court, and it has a kaleidoscopic joy and tension holding it together. The narration by Dion Graham Bernstine and Quincy Tyler is rhythmic, at times melodic, and the production sound effects work seamlessly with the narration and the text to bring the day of street ball to vivid life. This is one of those cases when having the book would be great, because the photos and layout tell the story, too. But if opting between the two versions (paper and audio), I'd still go with audio because the voices are so rich.

In general, this category is incredibly strong. I have been listening to more and more teen/YA audio in recent years - in part because it's great for listening while at work (except for when it compels me to tears, as so often happens. I'm a crier.) But I also think that more and more great YA audiobooks are being produced. There is a serious wealth of titles out there, so it makes sense that five such strong contenders are on the table now.

So I'm ranking Pick-Up Game, Chime, and Okay for Now in a tie for 3rd place. I think Pick-Up Game had the most effective production values, Chime had the most compelling voice, and Okay for Now had the strongest ability to transport me into the story and not let me go until 'The End.'

In 2nd place, Beauty Queens, which as I explained for the Narration by Author or Authors category (in which I pick this title to win), is an entirely captivating and delightful story, told with charming skill. Mad props to Bray, of course, for such a strong showing when up against narrators who really excel at interpreting books for a living. Sometimes when I'm writing I read parts of the novel to myself, and sure, I'm untrained and Bray isn't, but let's just say that when I publish my book, I'm not going to be the one narrating the audio version. (You can picture me knocking on wood here, fyi.)

And the top prize in my opinion goes to The Wake of the Lorelei Lee. I'm a fan of Meyer's series, and an even bigger fan of Kellgren's narrations of them. This title, with the myriad voices and accents, the constant singing and fighting and longing and loving, was a true wonder to listen to. It was one of my favorite audiobook listening experiences ever, and I hope this duo continue to work together for another dozen Jacky Faber adventures.

Good luck to all the nominees. It's, as I said, a great slate of titles, and it was a joy to listen to them for this project.

Armchair Audies: Susan Duerden Narrates Franny Billingsly's Chime

It's time for another of my Armchair Audies titles! This one is from the Teens category, and although I have a lot to explore before I can render my verdict, I'm pleased to have encountered such a strong contender. So much for my theory that Libba Bray's Beauty Queens would just run away with the title for both of the categories I'm taking on (Teens and Narration by the Author or Authors.) (This tendency to just assume the one title you've listened to will be the winner is part of the impetus behind the Armchair Audies, as I understand it. I'm extremely prone to that myself, so participating in this project is a fun challenge for me.)

Susan Duerden voices Franny Billingsly's Chime with 10 hours and 12 minutes of excellent narration. Here's the story: Briony Larkin has sequestered herself in her hometown on the edge of the swamp, a self-imposed atonement for the crimes she thinks she's committed against her family. Seventeen and curious about the world, she nevertheless sticks with her dead stepmother's strictures about not going into the swamp, not seeking the education she craves, always taking charge of her unusual twin, Rose. Stepmother has told her, in strictest confidence, that Briony is a witch. Only witches, after all, can see the Old Ones who live in the swamp, and Briony has played games with the spirits since childhood. Along comes handsome rebel boy Eldric, who sees Briony in ways that are beguile her, though her fear of being exposed as a witch (and her subsequent death by hanging) keep her from giving into his charms. Meanwhile, the spirits are sending a deadly swamp fever to the town's children in protest of the imminent arrival of a marsh-draining railway, and a local woman is being tried for witchcraft. It's a potent mixture of myth, romance, industrial espionage, and wicked stepmothering, plus a healthy dash of eel stew. So, basically, lots of fun elements I love.

Duerden has a lilting English accent and an aptitude for character voices. She manages sibilant spirits, a possibly-evil beautiful stranger, the dullard local swain, and a petulant sisters with aplomb. Everyone is distinct and so appropriate to their character. She totally avoids my biggest pet peeve of going too nasal or whiny to differentiate the voices, so everyone is easy on my ears. She did a great job with Briony's emotions - her trepidation, excitement, worry, love, sadness, and fear are all translated smoothly.