Where The Water Takes Us

by Alan Barillaro Narrated by Eunice Wong

Overview

Ava's mom is about to have twins, and the pregnancy isn't going well. All Ava wants to do is stay by her mother's side, but instead, she is sent away to stay with her grandparents. Normally, spending time at the lake with Nonna and Nonno is wonderful. But everything is different now. While her mom's hospital visits are getting serious back home, Ava grapples with anxiety. As summer storms rock the island, electricity goes out at the cabin, and an annoyingly cheerful boy named Cody seems determined to pop up everywhere she goes. Ava can't be distracted from the feeling that something terrible, something irrevocable, is going to happen to her mom while she is gone. When a bird dies in front of her, Ava is sure it is a sign that she is cursed-the last thing she, or her family, needs. But if a curse has been placed on her, there must a way to break it. So Ava makes a deal: if she can take care of two orphaned bird eggs, she will have paid off her debt, and her family will be alright. With everyone she loves on the line, Ava will do everything in her power to make sure that her mom, her twin baby brothers, her birds, and even Cody all come through the summer safely.

Editorial Reviews

FEBRUARY 2024 - AudioFile

Narrator Eunice Wong captures the beauty and pain of this magical coming-of-age story set on a Canadian island. Listeners meet 11-year-old Ava, who has been sent to her grandparents while her mother experiences a difficult pregnancy. Wong's sweet, sensitive Ava is worried despite her loving grandparents and the gorgeous setting of the island, replete with deer, birds, and water sports. The well-rendered characters come alive, including young Cody, whose joy and enthusiasm annoy Ava, who wants to be left alone to brood. After witnessing a bird's death, Ava becomes convinced she's cursed and must care for two orphaned robins to reverse her fate. Most relatable are Ava's and Cody's encounters, and Wong's exceptional child and adult dialogue. Audio is essential for the evocative climax, which is both realistic and satisfying. S.G.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940178186961
Publisher:	Dreamscape Media
Publication date:	07/04/2023
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

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