THE MARK OF THE DRAGONFLY

Thirteen-year-old Piper is an orphan who struggles to survive by scavenging, repairing, and reselling artifacts from other worlds. Narrator Kim Mai Guest does an excellent job evoking Piper’s tenacity—not only to survive but also to one day get herself out of the lowly scrap town where she lives and make something of her life. Opportunity comes when Piper rescues a mysterious girl, Anna, and sets out to return her to the capital of the neighboring Dragonfly Territories. The breathy, somewhat ethereal tone Guest uses to portray Anna perfectly matches the scatterbrained, timid girl. Guest pulls listeners into the treacherous adventure as the girls are pursued by a dangerous man bent on seizing them. A suspenseful narration and a vaguely steampunk-inspired world make this a fun listen. J.M. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2014]