DAUGHTER OF PROVIDENCE

Anne Dodge lives with her father in a Depression-era mill town in Rhode Island. Her Portuguese mother left when she was 6-years-old, and, years later, after her mother’s death, Anne learns she has a younger half-sister, Maria Cristina. The body of a young Portuguese man washes up on shore. Maria Cristina comes to live with Anne and her father. Problems ensue as secrets unfold. Thanks to Tavia Gilbert’s sensitive reading, the structural flaws in this debut novel are less apparent, but immigration issues, politics, economic downturns, racial discrimination, a murder, and a slew of extraneous details clog the otherwise promising plot. Gilbert’s Portuguese accent sounds more Italian than Portuguese, but her energy, pleasant voice, and intelligent performance keep the story from bogging down. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2011]