THE STOLEN YEAR How COVID Changed Children's Lives, and Where We Go Now

Anya Kamenetz's narration equally embraces nonfiction elements and hard-hitting stories of the losses that children experienced when Covid lockdowns prevented them from attending school. For many American kids, school is a critical social safety net. Kamenetz's tone of authority reveals her years of experience as NPR's education correspondent. She also provides compassionate snapshots of individual interview subjects, who give the audio depth. Her voice expresses the curiosity that led to the breadth of her research, and she continually emphasizes her passion for the plights of working mothers, low-income families, teachers, plugged-in children, and those suffering poor physical and/or mental health. Kamenetz connects with listeners, brings together multiple perspectives, and shares insights about the U.S. before, during, and after the pandemic. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2022]