THE LAST SUMMER OF ADA BLOOM

With a lovely Aussie accent, Katherine Littrell narrates this story about a dysfunctional family in a small town in Australia. Nine-year-old Ada's point of view--a youthful, rambling introspection--is beautifully voiced by both author and narrator. Littrell provides only slight characterization for Ada's teenage brother and sister, Ben and Tilly, both of whom are eager to push their parents' loose boundaries as they yearn for adulthood. Ada's innocence is shattered one hot summer when she discovers her unhappy parents' secrets; she struggles with decisions beyond her years and the weight of her family's fragile connections. The family members' contemplative musings are the heart of this novel, and Littrell delivers them artfully. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2020]