BLOCK SEVENTEEN

Natalie Naudus brings thoughtful gravitas to the narration of Kimiko Guthrie's debut, which depicts the collective trauma that the Japanese internment camps of WWII inflicted throughout generations of Japanese-Americans. Akiko "Jane" Thompson is at the center of this story, which alternates between the camps and present-day California. Jane has disconnected from her Japanese heritage, but when her life begins to disintegrate, she realizes she must confront the legacy of the camps if she is to heal. Naudus skillfully navigates between the novel's two time periods, employing a low, bleak tone to describe the camps and heightened emotionality when communicating Jane's increasing instability. Her characterizations are authentic and believable, and her ability to capture this novel's unsettling atmosphere sets this audiobook apart. S.A.H. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2020]