All Woman and Springtime

In this debut novel from Jones, two seamstresses on the cusp of womanhood are spirited from the fear and drudgery of North Korea to the fear and unpredictability of sexual slavery in the West. The untamed and ambitious Il-sun contrasts sharply with her best friend Gi—who saw enough of hardship as a child in a labor camp to ensure her obedience to the state—as they work to survive and possibly heal. Christine Williams ably renders the two protagonists and creates distinct voices for the book’s other female characters. However, her portrayal of male characters is less convincing and often sounds artificial. Williams’s gentle voice fails to capture the villainous men who oversee the sex trafficking operation. However, as Jones’s novel is light on dialogue, this audio edition remains an enjoyable listen, even without strong interpretations of all the characters. An Algonquin hardcover. (May)