BUTTERFLY HEART

Laura Knight Keating performs this young adult novel about the importance of ensuring that Indigenous identity is passed from one generation to the next. It's summer break in Sweden, and Vilda has big plans. She's going to ask ddjá, her grandfather, to teach her the Sámi language. But when ddjá dies unexpectedly, Vilda feels more disconnected from her Sámi roots than ever. While Keating captures Vilda's emotional turmoil as she grapples with her grief, she struggles with the characters' dialogue. But as Vilda learns new Sámi words, Keating's pronunciation of the language becomes a vital part of the listening experience. Keating shines in her performance of an Indigenous teen's inner life and depth of emotion. K.D.W. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2025]