TAHIRA IN BLOOM

Narrator Anita Kalathara's inflections convey contention between urban and rural teens. Things are not coming up roses for 17-year-old Tahira Janmohammad. Her summer internship in New York City is sabotaged by a parrot, and then she finds herself helping her aunt revamp her store in Bakewell, Ontario. Kalathara's youthful voice brings out the teen's personality. Soon, Tahira's initial disdain for the small Canadian town turns into a growing awareness of the positive qualities of its residents--even Rowan Johnston, the gorgeous but frustrating country boy who is contemptuous of her city ways. This lesson on acceptance and community is a light listen (with some expletives) suitable for teen/young adult listeners. M.F. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2022]