Winter Sky

Listeners will be chilled by the story of 11-year-old Siria, whose night-time, siren-following jaunts take her to fire locations with the intention of bringing good luck to her fire-fighting dad. Narrator Arielle Sitrick is masterful at taking Giff's spare prose and creating a spunky and convincing protagonist. A series of small neighborhood fires suggest arson, and Siria is determined to identify the arsonist. When clues point to friends and then her father is injured, Siria musters all her pluck to carry on. Sitrick's voice is childlike--raw and unpretentious--and she has a way of punching out emotion just as young people do. Cassandra Campbell narrates during the moments when Siria's mother provide poignancy to the story. A.R. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine

March 31, 2014
At night, Siria searches for fire and sirens in hopes of catching her firefighter father at work. But when she discovers a series of fires that look like arson, she decides to find the perpetrator in an effort to protect her father. Strick provides a strong and sincere voice that is perfect for Siria, while also capturing the uncertainty and ambiguity that comes with being a young adult often left to her own devices. Sitrick deftly captures Siria’s emotional range, and though she creates believable voices for the book’s men, they pale in comparison to the voices she lends the female characters. Campbell also turns in a fine performance: her tone is lofty but hints at deeper emotions, which works well for Giff’s novel. Ages 8–12. A Wendy Lamb hardcover.

October 28, 2013
In spare prose, Giff (Gingersnap) subtly conveys the worries of 11-year-old Siria, whose firefighter father regularly risks his life to rescue others. Unbeknownst to her father, Siria keeps watch over him, chasing fires in the middle of the night to “be his luck.” When a series of fires threatens the neighborhood, Siria suspects that her best friend Douglas may be involved in setting the blazes. Then there’s the mangy stray dog that mysteriously appears at fires and urgently needs Siria’s care. Giff poetically demonstrates Siria’s compassion through actions rather than words. A subplot regarding Siria’s fascination with stars is skillfully woven into the story, expressing the girl’s connection to the mother she lost years ago. Other threads of connectivity emerge, tying Siria to significant people in her life: her father and the other firefighters, who have become like family to her; the occupants of her apartment complex; and the dog she takes under her wing. Siria’s close-knit community evokes a comforting atmosphere of warmth and mutual support even in the midst of danger. Ages 8–12. Agent: George Nicholson, Sterling Lord Literistic.