Wonderfully performed and completely captivating, this is historical fiction at its finest.
This well-researched novel reimagines the life of the first Chinese woman brought to the United States in the early 19th century. Jeena Yi is amazing as Little Sparrow, who is given multiple names over the years. Yi makes real the child whose feet are painfully bound; “Julia,” who becomes an object of curiosity at the Obear home and at P.T. Barnum's American Museum; and “Mrs. Moy,” who endures the rough days of San Francisco’s Gold Rush. Cassandra Campbell is charming and slightly sinister as Margaret Obear, the besieged wife of a hypocritical ship’s captain in whose care “Julia” is placed, while Bahni Turpin is delightful as Joice, who is on exhibit in Barnum’s museum as the 161-year-old nursemaid of George Washington.
Wonderfully performed and completely captivating, this is historical fiction at its finest.Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 22 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063467767
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 21, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2026
Ayla, one of the "others," is adopted by a clan of Neanderthal cave people. She struggles to conform to their ways, but her advanced human traits overwhelm and threaten their primitive culture in this initial installment of an immensely popular series. Although the story might benefit from abridgment, Rowena Cooper easily carries out the formidable task of enlivening the mostly silent and stereotypical characters with consistent, diverse personalities and human dimension. Through skillful phrasing and inflection, she maintains the reader's interest and suspense, especially with Ayla and her plight, throughout this rambling and imaginative story.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This lyrical, sensual novel of woman's lot in Manchu, China, is as well researched as it is well written. Authentic in tone, it's nonetheless written for Westerners by a Western expert on China. Moreover, Susan Clark performs the demanding text superbly, with only occasional signs of fatigue. For the most part she not only sustains the quaint diction and Asian atmosphere, but also, creates whole worlds with her voice. She acts the book, rather than reads it, and, in so doing, turns a pretty trifle into a stupendous beauty.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Audio Literature
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
