Publisher Description
"If the middle grade Filipino American market had an audio representative, Abellera would be the reigning voice" — School Library Journal *Winner of a Parents' Choice Silver Award* This program includes a bonus conversation with the author. An uplifting middle-grade debut about perseverance against all odds, Marie Miranda Cruz's debut Everlasting Nora follows the story of a young girl living in the real-life shanty town inside the Philippines’ North Manila Cemetery. After a family tragedy results in the loss of both father and home, 12-year-old Nora lives with her mother in Manila’s North Cemetery, which is the largest shanty town of its kind in the Philippines today. When her mother disappears mysteriously one day, Nora is left alone. With help from her best friend Jojo and the support of his kindhearted grandmother, Nora embarks on a journey riddled with danger in order to find her mom. Along the way she also rediscovers the compassion of the human spirit, the resilience of her community, and everlasting hope in the most unexpected places. “Heartwarming!”—Melissa de la Cruz “A story of friendship and unrelenting hope.”—Erin Entrada Kelly
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Amielynn Abellera exuberantly narrates the story of 12-year-old Nora...Abellera adds zest to the story, peppering it with luscious descriptions of Filipino delicacies that contrast sharply with the gritty and desperate reality of cemetery life...listeners will be utterly seduced by her depiction of tender and tenacious Nora, who reminds us that hope can be found amid even the most wretched conditions.
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AudioFile "If the middle grade Filipino American market had an audio representative, [Amielynn] Abellera would be the reigning voice. Already the narrator of two of Newbery Medal winner and Filipina American Erin Entrada Kelly’s three middle grade titles, she is an energetic cipher for Cruz’s feisty 12-year-old Nora.
About Marie Miranda Cruz
Marie Miranda Cruz was born in the historic town of Cavite City in the Philippines, and spent a large portion of her childhood and teenage years living around the country. Cruz moved to the United States permanently after getting her degree in biology and currently works as a medical technician. She has always held a deep love for children’s books and for writing; Cemetery City is her first novel.
About Amielynn Abellera
Amielynn Abellera, an Earphones Award-winning narrator, has worked at the Mark Taper Forum, Berkeley Repertory, San Jose Stage, Shakespeare Center of LA, MainStreet Theatre, Theatre @ Boston Court, Chalk Repertory, Artists at Play, LA Women’s Shakespeare, and Katselas Theatre Company. She received her MFA degree in acting from the University of Southern California and is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.