Narrator Pete Cross is completely believable as gay, out 17-year-old Canadian boy-band star Hunter Drake. Soon after Kiss & Tell embarks on a concert tour, Hunter's ex-boyfriend shares their private--and very personal--text messages online. Everyone from the band's label to strangers on the Internet has an opinion about everything from Hunter's public image to the details of his sex life. A chorus of additional narrators gives voice to the barrage of gossipy news articles, social media posts, and interview excerpts, and shows how unrelenting and brutal the spotlight can be, while Cross's narration keeps us tuned to Hunter's mindset. As Hunter weathers the storm and finds his voice again, he navigates a budding romance with fellow musician Kaivan. Listeners will be rapt throughout this intense and empowering audiobook.
(Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: March 22, 2022
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780593503034
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A unique portrait of a teen who finds himself by embracing the love, grief, and activism that surround him.
Fifteen-year-old Bryce was born on the Ojibwe Wolf Creek reservation and lived there happily until his father’s death. Now he lives far away, surviving in a shadowy existence with his drug-addicted mother and her abusive boyfriend. Narrator Meegwun Fairbrother effectively expresses Bryce’s fear and anger. When Bryce’s mother is imprisoned, he returns to Wolf Creek to live with his grandmother and dying grandfather. Fairbrother uses accents judiciously and evocatively to ground listeners in the strength and caring of Bryce’s grandparents and other elders. Similarly, Fairbrother conveys the support of Bryce’s old friends, who introduce him to skateboarding, a passion his father also shared.
A unique portrait of a teen who finds himself by embracing the love, grief, and activism that surround him. (Fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: June 2, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 20 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063160453
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: April 28, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2026
Tyo delivers a mic drop of a performance.
Ambrosia Lee is an actress. Well, a former actress. She’s still in high school, and already she’s lost roles because of her body type. Narrator Shannon Tyo handles Ambrosia’s adversities with a voice that sounds like an eye roll: casually comedic. Ambrosia is not the type to wallow, and she quickly finds a new passion in stand-up comedy. Tyo delivers Ambrosia’s jokes with confidence and sarcasm, adding levity to the animosity among the predominantly male crowd that sometimes greets these jokes. At home, Tyo deftly captures Ambrosia’s experience as an Asian American and the child of divorced parents. On the screen, stage, and page, Ambrosia shines. Listeners hoping for an encore are in luck: Author Park narrates notes on stand-up at the end.
Tyo delivers a mic drop of a performance. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: April 28, 2026
Duration: 6 hrs, 11 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217295326
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: June 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
