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“Narrators Edoardo Ballerini and Maria Liatis couldn’t be better in Isabel Allende’s intricate, heartrending novel…Ballerini is simply outstanding. Every voice he delivers is believable; every emotion feels authentic…Allende’s poignant storytelling and sharp criticism of unfeeling bureaucracies are made even better by two remarkable performances. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”
— AudioFile
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“Both stories are rich enough to carry the weight of one novel, but Allende expertly intertwines them.”
— Washington Post
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“Shapes a lyrical romanticism around social political history and global turmoil.”
— NPR
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“It feels something like a modern version of The Secret Garden: lost, grieving people finding joy and hope with each other, with a touch of magic. Beautiful and moving.”
— BookRiot
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“The dual narrative structure gives historical weight to the contemporary story line, and Allende finds real depth in her characters, especially when portraying their sacrifices.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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[An] homage to parents who make unthinkable decisions to save their little ones, and to kids who survive some of the toughest challenges imaginable.
— Associated Press
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Allende’s artistry shapes a lyrical romanticism around social political history and global turmoil . . . [Her dialogue is] current, relevant and real. Our civic discourse is centered by a multitude of voices talking about two things—immigration and identity—who belongs and who doesn't, and how to care for the dispossessed. In Allende’s version healing is possible, because empathy is a hopeful, albeit inconsistent, follower of migration.
— NPR
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[Allende is] the queen of magic realism.
— BBC
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It feels something like a modern version of The Secret Garden: lost, grieving people finding joy and hope with each other, with a touch of magic. Beautiful and moving . . . draws parallels between humanitarian crises in different times and places in a way that feels deeply personal.
— Book Riot
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The Wind Knows My Name is a treat for fans of Kristin Hannah, Christina Baker Kline, and Julia Alvarez, all authors who understand that history always affects current events.
— Virtuoso, The Magazine
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Allende is always a must read and readers will queue for her latest mix of history, suspense, emotional insight, social commentary, mysticism, wit, and tenderness.
— Booklist
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Powerful . . . Allende finds real depth in her characters, especially when portraying their sacrifices. This authentic and emotionally harrowing work is a triumphant return to form.
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)