BEYOND THE BRIGHT SEA

Narrator Jorjeana Marie expresses all the youthful longing of 12-year-old Crow. Crow was just hours old when she was discovered by Osh and Miss Maggie, two inhabitants of an isolated Massachusetts island. Marie portrays the fierce love of these guardians. Osh is wise and enigmatic, and Miss Maggie, strong and bold. When Crow's questions about her original family can't be stilled, Osh and Miss Maggie tenderly support her piecing together of her fragmented past. When a villain appears, Marie's depiction of his ruthless menace contrasts with Crow's growing courage and sense of self. Overall, Marie melds conflict and tenderness beautifully in this tale of family and belonging. The author's brief postscript expresses her caring for place, history, and characters. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2017]