THE GIRL WHO COULD SILENCE THE WIND

When the birth of Sonia Ocampo seemed to quell a terrible storm, she was designated the magical protector of her Chilean village. Cristina Panfilio's easy transitions between the Spanish and English words woven throughout this story hold a similar magic. Her gentle timbre and fluid reading create a strong sense of Sonia's character and her village. Panfilio manages Sonia's altering moods just as easily she portrays Sonia's need, at age 16, to go away and work in the city before one more person can pin a prayer charm to her shawl. Panfilio's narrative flow prepares listeners equally for the story's bursts of magical realism and Sonia's realistically tangled feelings as she seeks to find her place in the world. S.W. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2013]