Jumping the Scratch

August 21, 2006
It has been a rough year for 11-year-old Jamie Reardon. In short order, his cat, Mister, died, his father ran off with another woman, and the boy and his mother moved to a trailer park to live with his aunt Sapphy who, because of an accident at the cherry factory where she used to work, has lost her short-term memory and needs them to take care of her. Jamie is also suffering from being the new kid in school and bearing the brunt of a bully's attention. But worst of all is the dark secret that sits deep in Jamie's heart, a secret that he can't share with anyone, and that he would give anything to forget. Spinella brings a lovely sensitive quality to his narration of Weeks's novel, which is reminiscent of the old 1980s television series The Wonder Years
, as an older, wiser Jamie looks back at an important, troubling and powerful earlier time in his life. Spinella's insightful performance brings notes of pre-teen innocence and angst to his characterization of Jamie, and is sure to connect with young listeners. Ages 10-up.

Tony Award-winning Stephen Spinella reveals his storytelling talent as he gives voice to young Jamie Reardon, whom he portrays as an introspective loner. Spinella uses a contemplative tone to reveal Jamie's desire to help his Aunt Sapphy, a woman who suffered brain damage in an accident at the cherry factory where she worked. Spinella instills Jamie's friend, Audrey Krouch, with a precocious voice as she attempts to hypnotize Jamie and uncover his deepest secrets. As Spinella vocalizes Aunt Sapphy's warm, confused tone, his ability to draw in the reader shines, especially when Jamie becomes more confident in his belief that he might be able to heal his caring aunt. S.M. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine