LENA

Thirteen-year-old Lena and her eight-year-old sister, Dion, are on the road--running away from their sexually abusive father. Their mother is dead, they have no extended family, and Lena feels she must keep Dion safe. Kate Forbes's lilting Southern accent perfectly expresses Lena's anguish. Her fear and her longing for a caring adult are shaped by both author and narrator in a tiny jewel of a story that shimmers with love and acceptance as these two young white girls are befriended by an older black woman. The unvoiced narration respectfully captures the essence of all the characters--black and white, young and old. A thoughtful, provocative story is gracefully enhanced by a perceptive and eloquent narrator. S.G. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC/JAN 01]