My Heartbeat

When three characters are closely linked in a story, it's imperative that the narrator select unique voices for each person. My Heartbeat is a love triangle, delicately unfolded by young Ellen, who adores her older brother, Link, and falls from puppy love into intimate love with Link's best friend, James. Yet high school rumor has it that James and Link used to be more than friends. As Ellen tries to figure out all the relationships in her life, she comes to realize that sometimes you just can't know everything about a person. Christy Carlson Romano is a tender Ellen--changing from a sweet na•f to a mature young woman while never losing her thoughtful introspection. Unfortunately, it's hard to distinguish Ellen's inner thoughts from Link's and James's when voice changes are too subtle. M.M.O. Winner of 2004 ALA/ YALSA Recording (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine

December 1, 2003
In this story of 14-year-old Ellen's attraction to her brother's best friend, complexities more far-reaching than just sexual concerns come to the fore, when Ellen asks the two about the nature of their relationship. In PW's Best Books citation, we called it "a thoughtful approach to the many confusing signals that accompany awakening sexuality." Ages 14-up.