FLYING OVER WATER

Narrators Cassandra Morris and Christine Tawfik showcase a pair of unlikely friends who are drawn together, first, by circumstance and, then, by mutual understanding in this empathetic middle-grade audio. Syrian refugee Noura has just arrived in Tampa Bay with her family, a development she considers ironic, given her panic-inducing fear of water. Her new friend, Jordyn, is a champion swimmer who's currently in the grip of her own anxiety disorder. Morris gives Jordyn a tone that is a subtle balance of chipper and concerned as she tries to understand how her mother's recent miscarriage has impacted their entire family. Tawfik's Noura is quieter and more introspective, reflecting a girl who has been shattered by war and its aftermath. The joint narrative flows easily between the two, creating a believable blending of worlds. N.M. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2020]