Robert Radkovitz, the narrator and hero of SEEK, knows his father--a Cajun xylophonist and disc jockey--only through the taped radio program left in his crib. As a high school senior, Rob (Ben Fred) tells his life story, particularly his preteen years as a young radio enthusiast. Scouring the airwaves seeking his father’s voice, Rob’s younger years are portrayed beautifully by David Minick. This multicast production is a brilliant tapestry of sounds, weaving the sounds of Rob’s mother singing, his grandfather’s Marxist slogans, stray dialogue from Hispanic soap operas, an album of Louisiana bayou sound effects, and of course, the many sounds of radio. This is storytelling at its best. The program includes an interview with the author by children’s book historian and critic Leonard S. Marcus. S.E.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2003 Audie Award Finalist, 2003 YALSA Selection © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

High school senior Rob Radkovitz searches for his missing father, not on the streets of his native San Francisco but on the static-jammed airwaves of his radio. Adjusting the tuner ever so minutely, Rob hopes to catch again the fading voice of his dad in the shifting sounds of the night. A teen novel that stops us in our tracks.

Readers will strongly detect Fleischman's (Joyful Noise; Bull Run) ear for language and appreciation for family history in this story of a teen's life, which emerges as a lyrical symphony of voices. High-school senior Rob, inspired by his fascination with radios, chooses to write his autobiography (assigned for English class) in the form of a radio play. The narrator presents a series of monologues and dialogues that capture the essence of those who have influenced him most: his trilingual mother, his history-professor grandfather, his storytelling grandmother, the aunts who helped raise him, and his school friends. However, Rob is most conscious of the silence created by his absent father ("Somehow, that missing voice seemed to outweigh all those that were present," he reflects). In an attempt to fill the empty space left by the man he's never met, Rob tunes into radio stations across the country and beyond to listen to announcers, one of whom might just be his DJ father. The novel which combines elements of poetry, fiction, essay and drama will be best appreciated in a readers' theater kind of setting; otherwise, it can take some time to get one's bearings, as the narrative moves between flashbacks and contemporaneous conversations. But those who stick with this lively cast of characters, revealed solely through dialogue, will be rewarded. Ages 12-up. (Sept.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Gr 7 Up-To fulfill an assignment to write an autobiography, high school senior Robert Radkovitz records his memories of the sounds, voices, television shows, and songs of his childhood. Most importantly, he weaves in segments of the one tape he owns of a radio broadcast that contains his long-absent father's voice. The title's multiple meanings become clear as Robert seeks clarity about his life through his nearly lifelong search to locate his father, a radio announcer who left before he was born. Robert's story, which is filled with mystery, humor, and emotion, is revealed through the brief but telling passages. Although students may find Seek challenging at first, when they understand the book's construction, they may be inspired to gather together their friends and family (Fleischman's performance notes explain that the 52 characters can be covered by as few as 15 readers) to try this out loud. The intriguing cover, which features both younger and older versions of Robert's face along with an old-fashioned radio dial, should attract browsers. Another groundbreaking work by an author who loves to play with form.-Ellen Fader, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Robert Radkovitz, the narrator and hero of SEEK, knows his father--a Cajun xylophonist and disc jockey--only through the taped radio program left in his crib. As a high school senior, Rob (Ben Fred) tells his life story, particularly his preteen years as a young radio enthusiast. Scouring the airwaves seeking his father’s voice, Rob’s younger years are portrayed beautifully by David Minick. This multicast production is a brilliant tapestry of sounds, weaving the sounds of Rob’s mother singing, his grandfather’s Marxist slogans, stray dialogue from Hispanic soap operas, an album of Louisiana bayou sound effects, and of course, the many sounds of radio. This is storytelling at its best. The program includes an interview with the author by children’s book historian and critic Leonard S. Marcus. S.E.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2003 Audie Award Finalist, 2003 YALSA Selection © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine