THE CLAY MARBLE

When Khmer Rouge soldiers arrive to burn the farmers' rice seed, Dara's Cambodian village already lies in rubble after years of bombing. The refugee camp at the Thailand border, to which Dara's family escapes, promises a respite from the horrors, with food and safety guaranteed. Imagine Dara's terror, then, when she is separated from her family and must struggle to find them--and to survive. Christina Moore's reading is careful and well paced, with attention to the mixed emotions Dara struggles to balance throughout the story. However, Moore's Western voice sometimes pulls the listener up short, drawing attention to itself. While Moore's treatment cannot be faulted on its own merits, a reading by an Asian language speaker, with the suggestion of an accent, might have added authenticity. T.B. © AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/NOV 99]