The Night Tourist
Ninth-grade classics-prodigy Jack Perdu is a loner, but his lonely life soon changes after he is struck by a car and suddenly thrust into the underworld beneath New York—the world of the dead. The story can be somewhat difficult to follow, with references to Greek myths and other classics and with the underworld setting, but Rannels expertly guides listeners with a well-timed performance, convincing character representations, and an easy reading style. The underworld is filled with a wide range of characters, including Dylan Thomas and Tennessee Williams, and Rannels masterfully portrays the characters in dialects ranging from Irish to New York. The recording begins with haunting chimes and concludes with a gentle piano melody, indicative of the hopeful ending. Grades 6-9. --Anna Rich--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.