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Mina’s Matchbox (8.5 hours), by award-winning author Yoko Ogawa, is a magical coming-of-age story centered on two girls on the brink of adolescence: sturdy, pragmatic Tomoko and her fragile, artistic cousin, Mina. Told from Tomoko’s point of view and set in Ashiya, Japan, in 1972, Mina’s Matchbox is touched with fairy-tale enchantment, depicting a family in quiet crisis with delicacy and wonder.
Stephen B. Snyder’s translation is lyrical and humorous, and it’s enhanced by Nanako Mizushima’s nuanced narration. Mizushima conveys Tomoko’s awe towards her cousin’s wealthy, enigmatic family, expressing both her extreme awkwardness and her intense loyalty to Mina. Mizushima’s depiction of Mina is equally convincing, revealing both Mina’s frailty and her boundless heart. The result is a delightful audiobook that captures the everyday magic of friendship and love.
Read our starred review of the print version of Mina’s Matchbox.