A LAND OF PERMANENT GOODBYES

Leila Buck narrates this haunting tale of Tareq, a teenage boy who is trying to escape the political turmoil in Syria. In Europe he hopes to find a better life for his family. The omniscient narration is provided by none other than Destiny, and Buck speaks with the regal cadence one would expect of such a lofty narrator. Destiny occasionally interjects philosophical musings on the nature of humanity, helping listeners relate even more deeply to Tareq's struggles. At times, the story verges on a thriller, particularly when Tareq has a run-in with a human trafficker and Buck injects tension into her otherwise carefully metered voice. This timely, powerful audiobook is sure to stoke empathy in its listeners. S.P. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2018]