MATYLDA, BRIGHT AND TENDER

Narrator Jenna Lamia sensitively portrays grief-stricken Sussy, who loses her best friend, Guy, in a bicycle accident that occurred while he was saving her from an attacking dog. She pours her guilt, despair, and anger into caring for their shared pet gecko, Matylda. Everything reminds Sussy of that day, causing her to relive her pain. Lamia pulls listeners through her crescendos of emotion, which are relieved each time by her father's calm and steady voice reminding her "to breathe" and slow down. Lamia gently conveys the bond between Sussy and her pet and how it allows her to heal. This heartwarming and heartbreaking story is told with a depth of emotion sure to make listeners cry. M.F.T. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2017]