CHASING NORTH STAR

The vibrant, assured voice of Tavia Gilbert guides listeners through a family story about the trauma of mental illness affecting generations in both Germany and America. In a youthful voice Gilbert portrays 9-year-old Heidi Phillips, who describes life in the small town of Alamo, Michigan, in 1970. She recounts fun at the county fair, camping trips, and other good times, but there is always the possibility of Mother snapping and becoming violent--even dangerous. Gilbert presents Mutti, as the Phillips children call her, with a guttural German accent that is both sensual and menacing. The four Phillips siblings share a bond that helps them endure their mother's depression and schizophrenia. Tavia Gilbert does a spectacular job of electrifying this coming-of-age story. D.L.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2023]