Dead, actually by Kaz Delaney
Bolinda, 6 CD's, 7 hrs, 36 mins. ISBN 9781743154878.
(Allen and Unwin, 2012.)
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Humour, Death. Leaving work at a fast
food joint late one night, Willow, the only daughter of two hapless
but well heeled hippies turned lately to God, happens upon a car
accident, in which JoJo, the top A-lister at school, is killed. At
the funeral Willow receives unwanted overtures of friendship from
JoJo's friends and ex boyfriends, so knows something is very wrong.
Willow and her friend Macey despise JoJo and her friends for their
shallowness and vanity, epitomised by the over the top funeral. But
when Jo-Jo's ghost appears in her room, telling her that she must
find out who murdered her, Willow is floored, and despite her
disinclination to help JoJo she does not want this apparition living
in her bedroom for any longer than is absolutely necessary.
There follows a truly funny modern ghost story, a crime thriller
with a light touch of romance. Willow and Macey seek to find out
just what is behind JoJo's idea that she has been murdered, and when
Macey's brother, Seth, admits he was being blackmailed by JoJo,
their investigations widen.
The three go to JoJo's wake with some misgivings, and carefully
observe and question some of the leading contenders for the role of
murderer. At home Willow is trying to protect her parents from a
conman who is attempting to take their money, a situation fitting
with the wealthy but sleazy Gold Coast community. Seth the boy
Willow lusts after, suggests that they just pretend to be a couple,
to continue their clandestine observations of JoJo's friends. and
things move along to a funny climax combining all the themes.
All told with the tongue firmly in a cheek, the A-list girls'
behaviour is neatly expressed, their wealthy and vacuous lifestyle
presented in a way which will cause listeners to laugh out loud.
This audio edition presented by Bolinda makes easy listening. Dana
Kronental's voice is light, youthful and fresh, giving an empathy to
Willow's dilemma, while adding lustre to the range of people in the
background. Her voice takes on the shallowness of JoJo and her
companions, the almost nerdiness of Willow and her friends, the
longing in Willow's voice when she speaks to Seth, the absolute
loathing Willow has for the man in her parents' lives. Each voice is
recognisably different.
This is an inviting audio production of a wonderfully funny book,
one which could be well used in classrooms where this book or others
like it are to be studied, or a unit on modern images of women in
the media, or just as a series of CD's to listen to at home.
Fran Knight