SWEET HOME ALASKA

In the midst of the Great Depression, Terpsichore's family has fallen on hard times. Desperate, they've even traded the family piano for credit at the general store. Against her mother's wishes, the family accepts FDR's New Deal offer of free homesteading land in Palmer, Alaska. Narrator Susan Denaker creates character voices for Terpsichore, her twin sisters, baby brother, and parents. She sounds most natural as haughty Mom, who is eager to return to civilized life. Because the family piano and song lyrics play heavily into the story, music would have been a welcome addition to the production. Still, this is an inspiring story of a plucky sixth-grader who embraces a harsh new life on the frontier. An author's note, recipes, and song lyrics are included. L.T. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2016]