JUNONIA

Stina Nielsen’s narration complements this touching story of 9-year-old Alice’s return to Sanibel Island for her annual birthday vacation. There she finds that things are not always as they have been in the past. Nielsen’s even cadence captures the gentle tone of the story, which is part coming-of-age and part nature journal. Nielsen demonstrates an excellent use of pacing; she speeds up or slows down her voice at appropriate times to portray Alice's skepticism and Mallory's eagerness. The listener can also hear the tenderness in the parents’ voices. Nielsen provides subtle shifts in inflection to indicate who is speaking and easily distinguishes the narrator’s voice from those of the other characters. J.K.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2011]