THIRTY TALKS WEIRD LOVE

Alessandra Narváez Varela narrates her own poignant, evocative novel in verse. It's the '90's in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, and Anamaria is 13. She is struggling to navigate changing friendships, family dynamics, obsession with academics in a highly competitive school, and mounting fear about the disappearances of girls in her city. When Thirty appears, claiming to be her from the future, Anamaria wants nothing to do with her. Thirty gives strange advice, encourages loving and accepting oneself, and is a poet and teacher, instead of the doctor Anamaria wants to be. A somber, introspective delivery illuminates the poetry and imagery in scenes of both pain and hope. From its strong sense of place and complex relationships to its striking climax and powerful afterword, this listen is resonant, transformative, and impactful. K.S.B. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2021]