THE BLUE IS WHERE GOD LIVES

Shayna Small performs this powerful story of African magical realism, time travel, and survival in an unfair world. In the modern day, Blue begins to hear voices after the horrifying murder of her daughter hundreds of miles away. Almost 200 years in the past, her ancestors discover a plan to keep Blue's family in economic slavery. They use magic that spans generations and connects them to Blue. Small adeptly takes listeners through two complicated storylines, shaping the characters' individual voices even as their experiences begin to overlap in Blue's mind. Small's strong character work creates a feeling of ancestral connection across different time lines. Her rhythmic delivery beautifully captures the poetic nature of the storytelling. V.B. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2023]