THE BERRY PICKERS

Aaliya Warbus and Jordan Waunch team up to deliver this twisty story about identity, family, and long-held secrets. In Maine, the summer begins like any other. Seasonal workers, including Indigenous families from Canada, are harvesting fruit in the fields. When four-year-old Ruthie disappears, the consequences are lasting, especially for her siblings. Warbus and Waunch trade off delivering the chapters of this unique novel, told from the perspectives of various family members. Emotion-packed segments connect young Ruthie to a girl named Norma. While an audiobook aficionado may figure out what happened to Ruthie early on, the narrators work together to keep the dramatic tension building throughout the novel. M.R. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2023]