THE LOVE AND LIES OF RUKHSANA ALI

Narrator Richa Shukla has the ideal voice for Bangladeshi teen Rukhsana Ali and the close-knit traditional community she loves--even though she fears what would happen if they find out she is a lesbian. Shukla's performance is spry, upbeat, and optimistic as Rukhsana navigates her two separate lives. Later, her performance captures the sudden emotional turmoil Rukhsana faces when she is caught kissing her girlfriend. The tension ramps up as Rukhsana is whisked away to Bangladesh and forced to make an impossible decision that leaves her planning a daring escape. Shukla excels at creating the heartfelt and maternal voices of Rukhsana's mother and grandmother, whose hardships help Rukhsana decide the life she wants to live. J.E.C. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2019]