THE GRACE YEAR

Emily Shaffer delivers a dynamic performance of this dystopian audiobook for young adults. On their sixteenth birthday, girls like Tierney are banished to the wilderness for a year to rid themselves of their magical skills so they can return purified and ready for marriage. Shaffer uses a variety of tones, accents, and pitches to portray a large cast of characters. She masterfully connects listeners to the characters' emotions, creating passionate and realistic performances. Shaffer's low and husky voice illuminates the tenacity and violence in a story that asks girls to decide who their real enemy is--each other, or the society that reared them. A brief interview with the author follows, offering insight on the inspiration for the story. A.K.R. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2019]