SEVEN DAYS OF US

The Birch family is quarantined by the return of Olivia, the oldest daughter, who has helped treat an epidemic abroad. They struggle to embrace being together for Christmas for the first time in years. Narrator Jilly Bond shows a great range in depicting the three female characters--Emma, the family matriarch, and sisters Olivia and Phoebe, each of whom has her own distinct cadence--as well as the three male characters, patriarch Andrew; George, Phoebe's fiancé; and a surprise visitor. Family tension is played out in pauses, raised voices, stammered dialogue, and shocked gasps, which are lightened by laughter that comes from the recollection of happier and easier times. Bond does a beautiful job narrating a heartwarming story. A.L.C. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2017]