VERA, OR FAITH

The youthful voice of Shannon Tyo is fitting for Vera, a 10-year-old Korean American girl who resides in a dystopian United States with her complicated family. While Vera presents as a conscientious, anxious, overachieving pre-teen, her Russian Jewish father, Anglo Saxon stepmother, and vociferous half-brother (who loves to expose himself to incoming houseguests) are totally out of touch with what is happening in their post-democratic society. To improve her grades at school, Vera attempts to debate a piece of racist legislation, only to realize that its wording on "exceptional Americans" excludes her. Listeners may find themselves trying to make sense of the story while keeping up with the top-speed pace of Tyo's delivery. M.L.B. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2025]