January LaVoy's narration gives this audiobook a lighthearted quality appropriate to its predictably unrealistic adventure plot. Book 2 in the Unicorn Rescue Society series starts the day after THE CREATURE OF THE PINES ends. Elliot and his new friend, Uchenna, are whisked away by Professor Fauna to the Basque Country, where they meet fellow Society member Mixtel Mendizabal. They work together to rescue a dragon that has been kidnapped by the greedy Schmoke brothers. Fauna's over-the-top accent makes him seem ridiculous, which works for this silly story, but the Spanish accents for the adult Society members are less assured. Happily, LaVoy's distinct voices make it easy to distinguish the boy and girl protagonists.
(Fantasy. 7-10)Pub Date: July 10, 2018
Duration: 2 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780525530381
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Rey’s timeless performance makes this medieval adventure fascinating, frightening, and fun.
Elena Rey holds listeners’ attention firmly in her grasp with her narration of this middle-grade historical fiction. Twelve-year-old Blanca is chosen by her grandmother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, to marry the prince of France. As Blanca travels from Spain, she learns lessons about how to be a queen from Eleanor and lessons about life from the difficult journey. Rey voices young Blanca, Queen Eleanor, and various male characters with equal aplomb. Eleanor sounds imperious and aged; Blanca is assuredly royal yet a still preteen; and the knights are chivalrous, pompous, and a bit overzealous. Rey’s royal harrumphs and sniffs and childish scoffs and whines add to the enjoyable soundscape.
Rey’s timeless performance makes this medieval adventure fascinating, frightening, and fun. (Historical fiction. 9-14)Pub Date: March 24, 2026
Duration: 6 hrs, 51 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217287901
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: yesterday
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2026
Lawrence enthusiastically portrays Cora and her friends in this fast-paced historical-fiction adventure.
Narrator Emily Lawrence creates a determined voice for Cora, who is desperately trying to survive the tragic 1906 earthquake in San Francisco with her two friends Chi and Oliver. Lawrence captures Cora’s tumultuous emotions as she and Chi are buried in rubble following the disaster and saved by her forbidden friend Oliver. Despite the bitter feud between their parents, Cora and Oliver work together to try to find her family as fire keeps spreading throughout their beloved city, all while running from bullies who are after Cora. Lawrence makes each character unique and adds a slight Irish accent for Oliver.
Lawrence enthusiastically portrays Cora and her friends in this fast-paced historical-fiction adventure. (Historical fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 7 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9798225033521
Publisher: Scholastic Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2026
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