OTHERS WERE EMERALDS

Narrator Shiromi Arserio captivates listeners in this moving coming-of-age story. Ai, the daughter of Cambodian refugees, recalls growing up in Australia in the late 1990s and trying to figure out how to navigate dating and friendships. Seventeen-year-old Ai and her group of friends regularly encounter bigotry and anti-immigrant sentiment. After their close-knit group suffers an unexpected tragedy following a confrontation with racist men, Ai struggles to deal with grief and trauma, especially their impact on her relationships. Presented at times like a memoir, this audiobook draws listeners in through Arserio's intimate portrayals and heartrending emotions. Her warm, accented delivery combined with the author's lyrical writing produces an immersive listening experience. V.T.M. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2023]