The Incredible True Story of the Making of the Eve of Destruction

October 1, 2018
In 1984, the only interesting thing about Griffin Flat, Ark., is that it’s surrounded by nuclear missile silos. But when it’s picked as the filming location for the adaptation of Boudreaux Beauchamp’s novella “Eve of Destruction,” everyone is excited—even Laura Ratliff. Laura, 16, is still reeling from her parents’ divorce due to her mother’s scandalous affair with (and subsequent marriage to) Dennis Jennings, the only African-American man in town. Obsessed with the possibility of a nuclear war, Laura wins a radio call-in contest for a walk-on role in the film, but things quickly escalate for everyone when what is supposed to be a scripted nuclear explosion may or may not have been the real thing. Brashear (No Saints in Kansas) sprinkles the novel with information about the ’80s, offering a nuanced sense of the time and what it felt like to grow up under nuclear threat. Footnotes for popular culture references, such as Columbia House (“It’s a mail order music club”) give the well-paced novel some levity while providing important background information. In this moment where what constitutes fact is up for debate, Brashear’s seemingly nostalgic romp is extremely timely. Ages 14–up. Agent: John Cusick, Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management.

Amielynn Abellera energetically narrates this hyperkinetic, surreal YA adventure set in 1984. When Hollywood comes to Griffin Flat, Arkansas, sarcastic Laura Ratliff is excited to win a walk-on role in the movie EVE OF DESTRUCTION despite her genuine fears about the possibility of nuclear war. When an on-set explosion triggers a possible nuclear incident, Laura faces a whole new set of problems. Abellera's theatrical delivery and exaggerated accents are perfect for this high-concept examination of how our worst enemies are sometimes ourselves. She highlights the audiobook's footnotes, which are mostly insights on the 1980s for contemporary YA listeners. This story has no intention of taking itself seriously, and Abellera nails its black humor. N.M. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine