ONE-HIT WONDER

Bee Bearhorn’s life took a dramatic turn for the worse in 1986, professionally and personally. Some of her catastrophes she shared with friends; some she didn’t. When she is found dead in 1999, her much younger half-sister, Ana Wills, finally begins to know her. Emma Powell imbues the parallel stories of Bee and Ana with a gentle compassion that sometimes belies the roughness of the text. Her ability to touch the hearts of the story’s many characters, seeing beyond the coarseness of their actions and appearance, brings a depth of understanding at times unwarranted. Powell colors the whole book with a sad, sweet vulnerability that inspires listeners to care for the most unlovable of creatures. R.P.L. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 03]