ReadPlus

Review:
No Worries by Bill Condon
Read by Stephen Phillips.
Louis Braille Audio, 2005 (5 hours)
ISBN 0732030331 4 CDs

Age 14+
A 2006 CBC Older Readers Honour Book, No Worries is a confronting novel which, with humour and pathos, looks at family, love and mental illness. The courage and resilience that Bri demonstrates inspires the listener.

Brian (Bri) Talbot is seventeen. Sick of being bullied by teachers and other students, he drops out of school to get a night job working in a milk factory. Starting a new job has its problems but it is his home life that presents the greatest challenge. His father lives in a shed in the backyard and his mother’s mood swings are beginning to become uncontrollable. More and more he has to take on responsibilities that seem overwhelming. One bright note is Emma, a girl from school, but she is about to go overseas on a student exchange.

Stephen Phillips’ reading of No Worries is so outstanding that it was very difficult to stop listening. His voice is very expressive and clear and it is easy to identify the characters. The voice of Bri is done particularly well, helping the listener to empathize with the trials that this maturing adolescent faces. The cockiness and irresponsibility of Bri’s father comes across clearly. The intense emotions and problems confronting Bri are so well read that the listener can be laughing one moment and in tears the next.

This quality audio presentation would be a valuable addition to a library, for a class to listen to or for use with a class set of novels. Reluctant readers should find it very accessible because of the authentic voice of Bri in particular. There are many themes that could be followed including adult responsibilities, depression, bullying at school, death and love. Teacher notes are available from http://www.uqp.uq.edu.au/book_details.php?id=0702234915

Pat Pledger

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