Genesis Begins Again

Author Alicia D. Williams brings authenticity and heart to the narration of her debut audiobook. Life has been hard for 13-year-old Genesis Anderson. Her alcoholic, gambling father never pays the rent, and the family lives with continual evictions and constant uncertainty. Her mother is a beautiful light-skinned black woman, but Genesis herself is dark, and she feels unbearably ugly in comparison. Williams sensitively portrays Genesis's deep hurt and self-harming behavior as she undergoes risky treatments to lighten her skin and soften her hair in the hope that she will someday be beautiful. As the story continues, listeners will feel her agony as she dares to see herself differently, tentatively standing up for herself and believing in her own worth. A powerful listening experience is enhanced by Williams's fluid performance. S.A.H. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine