BLACK BIRD, BLUE ROAD

Set in the eleventh-century Jewish empire Khazaria, the story of 12-year-old Ziva and her twin brother, Pesah, is lovingly narrated by Rebecca Gibel. Pesah has leprosy. When their parents announce they are sending him away to die, the twins leave home to find a cure. Listeners hear urgency and desperation as they try to outrace Pesah's death, which he has envisioned will occur on Rosh Hashanah, and befriend a sheyd (demon) named Almas. Gibel makes each character distinct. She especially captures the twins as they grapple with death. Her pronunciation of phrases and names from many languages, including Hebrew, is masterful. This strong performance is not to be missed. L.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2023]