THE PLUM TREE

Wiseman depicts a prewar Germany we've not seen before, experienced through the eyes of a young female protagonist, who is vividly portrayed by narrator Madeleine Lambert. The story opens with a classic coming-of-age conflict: Christine is in love with a boy who is not of her social class. But there's another obstacle, as well: The story takes place amid the shadow of the Third Reich, and Isaac is Jewish. As the young characters struggle to make love conquer all, Lambert deftly delivers the Wiseman's nuanced descriptions of everyday life in the countryside. The listeners' senses will come alive through Lambert's remarkable use of pitch, tone, and cadence. M.R. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2013]