BROWN GIRLS

Narrator Tashi Thomas assuredly navigates this debut collection of vignettes. Told in seven parts, the audiobook explores the coming-of-age of young immigrant women of color as they grow up in vibrant Queens, New York. Thomas nails the collective choral voice of the girls, narrating the story through the first-person plural "we" with versatility and range. She captures the musicality in Andreades's lyrical prose and skillfully conveys the girls' frustrations and struggles in trying to reconcile their aspirations with their roots. Her tone and timing while channeling the sass of the girls are spot-on. Though the story may be seen as an oversimplified group experience of brown girls, Thomas elevates it with a bold, resonant voice. V.T.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2022]