The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin

Jim Meskimen's narration begins as quiet and contemplative, self-deprecating and snarky. As the story progresses and the deaf, overweight Wil Halpin makes a friend and tries to solve the mystery of a classmate's murder, Meskimen gains a hint of joy in his voice. Meskimen makes it clear that although he may be the object of jokes, Halpin is not a victim. He is smart, witty, observant and a really good friend. He also handles the story's climax, in which the murderer is accused in front of police, ring true. The interactions between Halpin and the hearing world are realistically portrayed and will leave listeners with a new understanding of the deaf. The interview with the author answers many questions about how Berk captured the world of a deaf teen so completely. This is not a book about deafness nor obesity but a good old-fashioned mystery in which sleuthing saves the day. G.G. (c) AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

January 18, 2010
New student Will Halpin is overweight and deaf, and he adeptly eavesdrops on conversations by lip-reading while his own inner monologue is off and running. Debut author Berk injects Will's narrative voice with humor, irreverence, and self-deprecation; readers are also privy to Will's occasional horny thoughts about girls, which are funny and genuine without being overly vulgar (“The first thing I notice is this: public school girls are freaking hot
. Nice
. I try to focus on that and not on the sinking feeling that it might be way harder not to fail here than I thought”). Midway through, the story really takes off: after a football player takes a spill down a mineshaft on a field trip, Will and his new friend Devon try to solve the mystery of the student's death. Investigations into sleazy teachers and liked (and not-so-well-liked) classmates ensue. Much of the book's second half takes place in IMs between Will and Devon, which push the story forward at a lively pace. An engrossing whodunit that subtly draws attention to social issues surrounding deafness. Ages 12–up.