The Tyrant's Daughter

What's it like to be caught between cultures? The author, a former CIA agent, knows. So will listeners after hearing Meera Simhan's portrayal of 15-year-old Laila, who immigrates to the U.S. from an unnamed Middle Eastern country after her father is murdered in a coup. Simhan reads with lightly accented precision, balancing Laila's conflicting emotions at being "a girl divided"--relief at proffered friendship, horror at discovering her father's tyranny, worry about her mother's irresponsibility and her brother's delusion of becoming king, and, worst of all, confusion about who she really is. Simhan's involving narration catches listeners in Laila's web. This audio production includes an author's note and a commentary by Cheryl Benard, a researcher dedicated to social activism. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine

March 31, 2014
When her Middle Eastern dictator father was killed in a coup, Laila, her mother, and her younger brother flee the country. Now a teenager, Laila must adapt to life in the U.S. as her family tries to recover from its loss of power. Laila is slowly adapting to her new life, but her mother longs to return to the life she left behind. And now, Laila must decide what her future holds. Narrator Simhan turns in a solid performance in this audio edition. She provides Laila an appropriate Middle-Eastern accent and her tone reflects that of a teenager acclimating to a new culture. But Simhan shines brightest during the book’s moments of tension, generating a subtle range of emotions. Add in a fine performance from Benard, and the result is an audio edition that makes for compelling listening. Ages 12–up. A Knopf hardcover