ReadPlus

Review:
So Yesterday by Scott Westerfeld
Read by Christopher Brown.
Louis Braille Audio, 2005. (6 hrs, 15 min)
ISBN 0 7320 3059 5 6 CDs
Awards: 2005 CBCA notable Book

Age 12+ This is a rivetting tale, part thriller, part pop adolescent fiction, part expose of what makes things cool, about two engaging New York characters, Hunter and Jen. They meet when Hunter spots Jen’s unique shoelaces, which look like the red rising sun on a sideways Japanese flag. He asks if he can take a photo, using his new model mobile phone.

Hunter is a “cool spotter”, paid to spot new trends and report them back to big corporations. He invites Jen to go with him to a “cool tasting” to check out a new product and over the new two days, they go on a crazy chase through New York, trying to find Hunter’s missing boss, Mandy, and the coolest shoes that they have ever seen. The story is action packed with Jen and Hunter breaking into abandoned buildings, attending upper crust parties, and evading the Jammers, who work for the Anti Client, and who are trying to destroy market branding.

Christopher Brown’s excellent reading made the characters come alive for the listener. It was easy to distinguish individual voices, whether they were male or female. His clear US accent was very pleasant to listen to and the humour in the story was conveyed very well. The narration was fluid, with chapter breaks being announced smoothly and with little interruption for the listener. By the end of the reading, the listener had become engrossed with the main characters, their families and New York.

Listeners will be challenged to name the products in Westerfield’s story – and identify those that are already obsolete (so yesterday). They will also be challenged to identify where they come in the cool pyramid – innovator, trend setter, follower, laggard or classicist and may not look at advertising in quite the same way again.

Pat Pledger

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