DOWNEAST Five Maine Girls and the Unseen Story of Rural America

In reflective tones, Lisa Flanagan's narration chronicles the journeys of five young women from Maine's rural Washington county. Author Gigi Georges describes the girls' hopes and dreams and the geographically isolated region in which they're grounded. Flanagan's measured narration suits the documentary-like material as she shares the region's history and sometimes surprising insights--including COVID's long-reaching effect on the fishing industry. The audiobook is at once highly personal and also broadly illuminating as Georges invites listeners to infer larger conclusions about small-town life's values and challenges. These stories from Downeast shed light on the landscape of rural America--and offer hope for its future, which Georges suggests lies in the hearts of girls like these. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2021]