DRAGONFLY EYES

Catherine Ho delivers a dynamic performance of this middle-grade fiction, which takes place in 1960s China. Ah-Mei is a mixed French-Chinese girl who is struggling through poverty and political strife in Shanghai. Her bond with her French grandmother, Nainai, is one of her only comforts as her family's business falls into a dire state. While the plot is simplistic, Ho's performance is complex. The bond between Ah-Mei and Nainai is strong yet doesn't overshadow the challenges of racism facing Ah-Mei and her family from neighbors. The portrayals of the characters are thought provoking, and the story has a fairy-tale quality. This unique performance of an equally unique story offers much to enjoy. G.M. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2023]