SMUGGLED

Christina Shea’s debut novel is the story of 5-year-old Eva Farkas, who escapes from Nazi Hungary in a flour sack and is renamed Anca Balaj by her aunt and uncle, who want to cleanse the girl’s memory of everything Hungarian. But Anca is not so easily dissuaded, and she eventually returns to her homeland to embrace her past. The story is compelling, and Barbara Rosenblat’s performance is masterful. Rosenblat depicts Anca’s strengths and insecurities using a voice that is so natural that the listener is drawn to Anca, who remains optimistic and inspiring. In addition, Rosenblat transitions seamlessly from one character to another, allowing Shea’s powerful narrative to shine. D.J.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2011]