by Kathe Koja
With his shaved head and begging bowl the new kid is an automatic target for the bully boys of Edward Rucher High, an easy mark for their casual cruelty.
Watching this, Justin would gladly stay as far from the newcomer as possible, until their economics teacher pairs them for a project and he finds himself becoming fascinated by the kid the others mock as “Buddha Boy”. The thing is, friendship with an outcast always carries a price, and soon Justin must decide if he can stay silent in the face of what he knows.
A scorching portrait of contemporary high school life, featuring a character listeners will never forget.
| Author | Kathe Koja |
| Narrator | Spencer Murphy |
| Length | 2 hrs and 48 mins |
| © Copyright | 2003 Kathe Koja |
| ℗ Audio Copyright | 2004 Full Cast Audio |
Meet the Cast:
| Brenna Briski | Waitress |
| Graydon Brown | Tim Elder, John Kindel |
| Chris Carpenter | Jakob |
| Leonard Fonte | Mr. Freeberg |
| Shawn Galloway | Dad |
| Moe Harrington | Ms. Keller |
| Emily Holgate | Megan |
| Jeff Izant | McManus |
| Mercedes Johnson | LaRhonda |
| Tyler McAndrew | Josh Winston |
| Spencer Murphy | Justin |
| Lisa Porter | Audrey |
| Mike Stevens | Jinsen |
| Hugh Stone Fish | Magnur |
| Thea Van Der Ven | Aunty |
| Karl Wildman | Mr. Snell |
| Kathryn Yohe | Cheerleader |
| Ensemble: | Daniel Bostick Bruce Coville Todd Hobin |
| Director | Daniel Bostick |
| Produced By | Bruce Coville Daniel Bostick |
| Music | Todd Hobin |
Reviews:
“Koja accomplishes quite a feat… A compelling introduction to Buddhism and a credible portrait of how true friendship brings out the best in people.” — Publishers Weekly [udesign_icon_font name=”fa fa-star” color=”#dd9933″ size=”1em”] Starred Review
“After the story, Full Cast Audio includes a “special feature;” a note from the author, Kathe Koja. It’s a great added piece that gives further insight into this delightful audiobook.” — The Boox Review
“Spencer Murphy does a fine job conveying Justin’s fear of the unfamiliar, and Koja’s author note at the end will spark discussion of the writing process, as well as the problem of dealing with bullies.” — AudioFile, Dec 2004
“As with Kissing the Bee, the Full Cast Audio adaptation of Buddha Boy is skillfully acted and edited, bringing out nuances in the story with a cast of talented actors, including some very gifted young people in the principle roles. The story twists and turns, and never quite goes where you think it will — and like all of Koja’s YA novels, it contains an elegant and simple emotional truth at its core that will have you vowing to be a better person by the time it’s done.” — BoingBoing – Cory Doctorow, July 20, 2009
“Eighteen well-cast actors [are] led by Spencer Murphy, who aptly conveys Justin’s fears, ambivalence, and outrage … a surefire springboard for discussion about bullying, peer pressure, and tolerance.” — School Library Journal
Praise for the print version of Buddha Boy:
“Quickly paced, inviting, and eye-opening… a marvelous addition to YA literature.” — School Library Journal
Listen to samples from this audiobook:
- Buddha Boy - sample 1 1:27
- Buddha Boy - sample 2 1:09
- Buddha Boy - sample 3 1:38