THE QUINTLAND SISTERS

Tavia Gilbert tells Emma's story, reading from the journal of this fictional character and giving her a believable voice with a wide range of emotions. Shelly Wood places 17-year-old Emma, a midwife-in-training, at the northern Ontario farm of the Dionne family when the world was captivated by the birth of five identical baby girls. Emma has a young, eager voice full of excitement and pride in her role of caring for the girls. A tone of superiority and judgment infuses her voice as she observes the parents trying to regain a role in the girls' lives. The girls have childlike voices, and the other characters also sound realistic. Excerpts from archival news stories that give historical context are read in an authoritative voice. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2019]