UNSINKABLE CAYENNE

Jennifer Jill Araya thoughtfully introduces this 1980s semi-autobiographical story. Listeners meet 12-year-old Cayenne, who's delighted when her nomadic hippie parents rent a house that permits her to finally go to an actual school and make friends. After her mother has twins, she must help out at home while her pot-smoking dad, a Vietnam vet, and her mom scrape money together. Atmospheric glimpses of the Walkman, Swatches, and other long-ago sensations add nostalgia. Araya's narration enriches descriptions of friendships, first crushes, and family life challenges, such as Cayenne's mother's often hurtful impatience. Audio enhances the story's bittersweet tone when Cayenne compares her beloved birds to her family--as they move on once again. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2025]