TELEPHONE OF THE TREE written by Alison McGhee, read by Sara Matsui-Colby

 Alison McGhee was, for many years, haunted by the image of an old-fashioned disconnected telephone that people in Otsuchi, Japan used to speak to the departed they grieved. McGhee finally created a book to represent the power of this palpable need to connect with those who have died. TELEPHONE OF THE TREE is a brief novel, with short chapters that goes a plumbs the depths of grief. Main character 10-y-o Ayla’s best friend Kiri “went away” and left a hole in the close-knit community where people plant trees when people are born and die. Ayla and Kiri, met as babies, learn to“dream big” and want to become trees one day. When a phone appears in Ayla’s tree she’s reticent to use it. Gradually, Ayla realizes her strategies of lalala and don’t think don’t think aren’t working and she begins to remember her friend. Sara Matsui-Colby’s narration embraces Ayla’s youth, tenderness, lyricism and loss.Find out more about this book and the audio in the purchase link below.