LALANI OF THE DISTANT SEA

The prologue of this folklore-inspired adventure urges listeners to "come close, nestle deep," which is precisely the response that many will have to Lulu Lam's spellbinding narration. Lam spins the tale of Lalani Sarita, a 12-year-old girl who's so determined to save her struggling home island of Sanlagita that she sets sail across the sea to retrieve good fortune from the legendary Mount Isa, a quest from which no one has ever returned. Unobtrusive and immersive, Lam's performance indicates character voices through gentle adjustments of pitch and cadence. She establishes a steady pace that carries listeners through moments of sadness, fear, action, and wonder. Though Lalani's journey is arduous and her triumph hard-won, this audiobook will easily win over listeners of all ages. R.A.H. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2019]