WINTERLAND

In 1973 Russia, the State chose talented school children to pursue careers in either ballet or gymnastics. Daphne Kouma offers a beautiful performance, meticulously detailing 8-year-old Anya's experiences. After Anya is chosen, we hear about her stresses, hopes, and dreams, as well as the damage to her body and mental state as she moves up the ranks of competitive gymnastics. Kouma recounts the intense pressure to achieve placed upon Anya and the other prepubescent girls and boys who are chosen. They starve themselves to remain small. When they're injured, they're taped, given injections and pills, and sent out to compete. Kouma's credible Russian accents and outstanding character development make this a story filled with heart that listeners won't soon forget. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2023]