THE BRAVE

Shaun Taylor-Corbett introduces 12-year-old Collin, who has a form of OCD--he calls out the number of letters in all the words in a conversation. Eventually, his exasperated, distant father sends him from California to his Ojibwe mother (whom he's never met) on a Minnesota reservation. Listeners will rejoice when he finds an easygoing mom, a feisty grandma, and Orenda, an inspiring neighbor who suffers from ALS. Taylor-Corbett captivatingly portrays the Ojibwe, who "sound like there are two space bars between words." Orenda is the standout; she inspires Collin to accept himself, confront bullies (very impressively done), and share her belief that she will become a butterfly when she passes. Taylor-Corbett's stellar descriptions of nature and Ojibwe life add to the believability of this magical story. S.G.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2020]