ARK Forward Collection

Part of an Amazon Original collection of six stories, this work by DIVERGENT author Veronica Roth weaves a tale of memory and experience in the face of impending doom. Even as the Earth is about to be destroyed, the story remains understated, focusing on the little things that make us human. Narrator Evan Rachel Wood portrays Samantha in a soft, resigned tone that fits a story in which humanity has already been through the painful grieving process and has settled into a somber acceptance of its fate. Wood's cool, relaxed delivery takes listeners through Samantha's efforts to catalog the flora of our planet before it's destroyed. The botanical details are interesting, but it's the gentle emphasis Wood gives to the connections between humans that makes this audiobook such a compelling listen. N.H. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2019]