THE CHILBURY LADIES' CHOIR

This charming debut introduces the villagers of Chilbury, England, who defy tradition--and the vicar--as they keep calm and carry on during WWII. Specifically, they resurrect the church's choir in spite of the absence of male voices. The journal and letter format of the story poses a challenge to transform into audio, and this superb cast fully succeeds in keeping listeners engaged with voices that embody the personalities of all the characters, especially the five choir members. The timid widow who finds her voice, the boy-crazy daughter of the local gentry, the precocious sister, the young Jewish refugee, and, for comic relief, the scheming midwife hoping to outrun her shady past all show, in their own unique ways, the resilience on the home front. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2017]