BITTER TEA AND ROCK CANDY

Mimi doesn't like Waipo's favorite tea. How long can she avoid drinking it without hurting her grandmother's feelings? Katharine Chin delivers the answer in a heartfelt performance. Waipo repeatedly offers liangcha to Mimi, who thinks it's gross and yucky. Chin captures the humor in Mimi's efforts to get rid of the tea, as well as the tension when Waipo and Mimi clash over the taste of the healthy Chinese beverage. The descriptions of Waipo making liangcha are clear and made all the more immersive with the perfectly choreographed sound effects. When Waipo offers a new version of liangcha to Mimi, she accepts it with an open heart. Chin's emotionally resonant narration makes this story, steeped in Chinese culture, all the sweeter. M.F. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2025]