DAWN RAID

The native New Zealand accent of narrator Tameka Sowman Vahatau brings the setting to life in this audiobook about a biracial--white and Samoan--girl. Through 12-year-old Sofia's first-person diary entries, listeners hear about the political unrest in 1970s New Zealand. When Sofia's brother joins the Polynesian Panthers, a group protesting government injustices against native Maori and immigrant Pacific Islanders, Sofia begins to develop a deeper awareness of civil rights in her community. Vahatau's friendly tone and lively pace make Sofia relatable as an ordinary teenager who loves fashion, music, and TV even though her accent, culture, and the time she lives in may be unfamiliar to listeners. Many words will also be unfamiliar, but a glossary at the end helps explain them. S.C. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2021]