BIG & LITTLE QUESTIONS (ACCORDING TO WREN JO BYRD)

Youthful-sounding Emily Eiden captures the bittersweet experience of preteen Wren Jo Byrd, who's grappling with the not-so-happily-ever-after ending of her parents' marriage and the growing friendship between her friend Amber and Marianna, the new girl in town. Wren's full of questions: Can two be a family? Which is harder, keeping a secret (in Wren's case, pretending her parents are together) or telling the truth? Eiden sounds believably young when expressing Wren's confusion as she grapples with the pain of divorce without ever sounding maudlin. As the story unfolds, Wren begins to comprehend the sometimes-hidden hurts of those around her. With nuance and compassion, Eiden gently encourages listeners to consider how Wren finds her way through a difficult time. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2017]