ECHO MOUNTAIN

Holly Linneman's narration carries listeners into the whirlwind of 12-year-old Ellie's life. First, Ellie's family is disrupted when the Great Depression forces a move to the Maine woods; then their lives are torn apart when an accident leaves her father in a coma. Linneman defines Ellie's heartbreaking willingness to take responsibility for her family's survival even when it casts her in a bad light. Ellie is just starting to feel at home on the mountain when she meets Cate, an elderly woman who is ill, and her grandson, Larkin. Linneman's balanced depiction of Cate's wisdom, saltiness, and courage counterbalances her portrayal of Ellie's initial confusions and, later, her developing trust in her instinctive knowledge of healing. Linneman adds power to the author's evocative prose. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2020]