KINDRED

Being transported in time to the antebellum South would hardly be the first choice of a young black woman of the 1970s--even if it's to save the life of the slaveholder who otherwise might never grow up to be her ancestor. This may seem farfetched to some, but it provides the framework for a poignant and thought-provoking novel about slavery, survival and human nature. Kim Staunton removes any sense of strangeness for the reader and moves skillfully between the time periods as this unusual time-link continues. Her use of accents not only directs the listener through the changing settings, but also showcases the dynamic attitudes and emotions of the characters and their relationships with each other and the shifting social contexts in which they find themselves. J.E.M. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/MAR 99]