THE WEIGHT OF FEATHERS

Narrators Kirby Heyborne and Cynthia Farrell enhance the beauty of the language in this story. In the two decades since the accident that killed a member of each family, the Palomas and Corbeaus have clashed bitterly as they compete for the biggest audiences. The Hispanic Palomas strive to mesmerize their audiences with beguiling mermaids swimming in lakes and rivers, while the French Corbeaus seek to amaze with their fairies walking the tallest treetops. The narrators depict the meeting and subsequent relationship between Lace Paloma and Cluck Corbeau, flavoring their performances with authentic accents and a tempered pace that matches the magical realism of this star-crossed tale. The dual reading reflects the emotional struggles both teens experience as they fight their feelings, and their families, to stay together. J.M. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2016]