THE TINY JOURNALIST

Naomi Shihab Nye delivers her remarkable poems with understated yet fierce urgency. The audiobook's inspiration is Janna Jihad Ayyad, the "youngest journalist in Palestine," a 7-year-old girl who recorded smartphone videos of anti-occupation protests. Nye's vision combined with her finely crafted language creates tangible images for the listener and gives each work subtle simplicity. We enter the plight of real people struggling in a West Bank village. Nye's Palestinian-American identity allows her to draw on her family's roots for the details of everyday life that make these poems true. Quoting Janna, Nye writes, "When Facebook says I have 'followers,' I hope they know I need their help." Listening is a must. Listening while following along in print adds to the experience. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2022]