THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

Magical realism meets historical fiction in this heartbreaking story of Cora's escape from the horrors of enslavement on a Georgia cotton plantation and her dream of freedom in the fabled North. Bahni Turpin's narration is near perfection as she captures the emotional heart of this audiobook. Her sensitive pacing allows listeners to absorb the impact of intense scenes and tugs them along when the plot races. By using well-crafted dialect and authentic-sounding accents, Turpin believably dramatizes the wide range of characters, projecting the cruelty of the white bounty hunters, the determined fear of the runaway slave, and the reserved kindness of the Underground Railroad stationmasters. Turpin's strong performance combined with author Whitehead's affecting writing makes this the one audiobook you cannot miss. C.B.L. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2016]