THE ATLAS OF US

Alexandra Hunter narrates this complex exploration of grief with tender sincerity. Atlas James is utterly shattered by the death of her father, the only person she feels ever understood her. After a series of poor decisions, Atlas (newly rechristened "Maps") ends up alongside a group of total strangers in a community service project devoted to rehabilitating the wilderness trails that her father adored. Hunter's narration deftly interweaves the rawness of Atlas's grief and her sarcastic attempts to put up barriers against her fellow service hikers. As she is reluctantly drawn into a circle of camaraderie, and perhaps attraction, Hunter's tone shifts to display hints of the playfulness and humor that Atlas and her new friends exchange while learning about themselves and each other. N.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2024]