BANYAN MOON

Narrators Catherine Ho, Cindy Kay, and Elyse Dinh work together beautifully to portray three memorable Vietnamese American women in this immersive multigenerational saga. The story shifts from 1960s Vietnam to present-day Florida and Michigan as the point of view alternates among Huong; her daughter, Ann; and Huong's mother, Minh. Each narrator superbly creates a fully realized woman who is grappling with life's complexities and with the others. Kay brings forth pregnant Ann's clever, resilient persona as she forges a new life apart from her wealthy boyfriend. Dinh presents capable, determined Minh as she moves from war-torn Vietnam to Florida. And Ho delivers a sympathetic portrait of Huong, who yearns to reconnect with her daughter despite a devastating family secret. A winning and complex family portrait--wonderfully narrated. M.J. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2023]