ReadPlus

Review:
Hope Bay by Nicole Pluss
Read by Kellie Jones. Louis Braille Audio, 2005
61/2 hours, 6 CDs
ISBN 0 7320 3065 X
11+ Hope Bay is a sensitive portrayal of two young girls. In parallel stories the listener learns the story of Olga, who has to escape from the Nazis in war torn Rotterdam, and Possum, a young girl who feeds the dolphins with an old Olga, in the calm water of Hope Bay. The story deals with issues of freedom, conservation, death, migration, love and survival in a thought provoking and moving way.
Kellie Jones has a pleasant voice, which is very easy to listen to, and her narration is excellent. She gives the young Olga a slight Dutch accent to separate the World War 2 time period from the present. The listener has no difficulty sorting out who is speaking and when the narration is taking place. Jones is able to bring vividly to life the enthralling story of the young Olga and her dedication to Stella, the Jewish refugee, and the young German boy who falls in love with her. The narration is a sympathetic portrayal of Possum’s grief but manages at the same time to let the listener into the secrets that Olga and Stella have carried to Australia.
This is a reading that remains in the listener’s memory because its quality brings to life the humanity in Nicole Pruss’ heart wringing tale.
Pat Pledger

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