A People's History of Heaven

Jeed Saddy brings to life the four buoyant women who educate us on the power within the downtrodden. Her range as a narrator is put to good use as she switches between Deepa, Joy, Rokshana, and Padma. The girls, and their mothers, work together to keep the city of Bangalore from demolishing their only home. Ironically named Heaven, the slum is all they have--except for each other. Saddy paints a rich vocal picture of the girls, who are a mix of religions and lifestyles. She switches smoothly from female to male characters, and her changes in pitch and tone help listeners distinguish between the old and the young. This is a story of friendship and survival told with great style. M.R. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine