BLACK BUTTERFLIES

Narrator Rachel Atkins conveys the heartbreak, pain, and confusion experienced by Sarajevans under siege during the first year of the Bosnian War in 1992. Artist Zora Koovi chooses to stay in Sarajevo even as family members flee, bombs begin to fall, and snipers wreak havoc from nearby rooftops and hills. Atkins provides a pitch-perfect performance, capturing Zora's love for her complex, cultured city and her growing despair at the brutal conditions she and other Bosnians endure--starvation, bitter cold, lack of electricity and running water, and never-ending raids. The world watches but does little to help, but even then, beauty, love, and connection provide sustenance. Author Morris delivers her author's note with dignity and gravitas, supplying additional insight into this impactful portrait of survival, ingenuity, and hope. S.A.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2024]