One Came Home

Narrator Tara Sands gives an energetic portrayal of 13-year-old Georgie Burkhardt, whose sister has gone missing and is assumed dead in 1871 Wisconsin. With a youthful, feisty voice, Sands perfectly portrays Georgie's stubborn personality as she takes off on her own, determined to prove that her sister is still alive. Sands shows Georgie's exasperation at being unexpectedly accompanied by her sister's former beau, her ferocious bravery in the face of danger, and her sadness as she comes to accept what may have befallen her sister. The exuberance is just a bit overdone during the exposition featuring historical facts about Wisconsin, but, overall, Sands's high-spirited performance is a perfect fit for Georgie, a capable teenager who won't ever give up. M.M.G. 2014 Newbery Honor © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine