THE SEA IN WINTER

Narrator Kimberly Woods's soft voice draws out the roiling emotions in an audiobook about recovery, loss, and hope. Maisie is a 12-year-old Makah and Piscataway girl whose identity has revolved around ballet for years, but now she's injured and facing an uncertain future. Woods's youthful voice embodies Maisie, whose anger and anxieties are beginning to overwhelm her despite the loving support of her family. When they take a vacation on the Olympic Peninsula, Maisie finds a connection with her resilient ancestors but still feels hopeless, which is shown by the way she keeps snapping at her parents. Young listeners who are facing loss and a year like no other will find this quiet audiobook provides comfort and catharsis, as well as a role model for learning to express strong emotions and to ask for help. E.E.C. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2021]