An international mystery well delivered by narrator Eileen Stevens, this debut is an exciting start to a new series. Grace is back in Adria, the city where her mother grew up and where Grace's grandfather is the U.S. ambassador. Grace spent every summer on Embassy Row until her mother's death. Everyone says it was an accident, but Grace knows she saw a man murder her mother, and that man is now in Adria, and Grace knows he's going to kill again. With a range of characters of varying origins, Stevens is given a tall order and excels at creating an accent and personality for each one. She brings sensitivity to Grace's fragile state and keeps the listener guessing as to what to believe. A twisty listen sure to engage teen listeners.
. (Thriller. 12-14)Pub Date: Jan. 20, 2015
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780545788359
Publisher: Scholastic Audiobooks
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Listeners follow Merry, the longbow girl, one of the best archers in her town. When she finds a magical portal in the forest that takes her back to sixteenth-century Wales, she must use her skills to win an archery contest in order to help her ancestors keep their land. While narrator Emily Wilden brings protagonist Merry to life with a rich Welsh accent, her narration seems uneven at times. All the period characters have accents that reflect the setting of the story and transport listeners to Wales. Listeners who enjoy historical fiction and a bit of fantasy will be charmed by this tale of determination, hope, and family.
Young AdultPub Date: N/A
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781501916793
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In 1832 thirteen-year-old Charlotte Doyle is sailing from Liverpool to Rhode Island to rejoin her family. Shocked to discover that the families who were to have been both guardians and companions will not accompany her, Charlotte embarks on a journey filled with terror and swashbuckling adventure. The first-person narrative makes this Newbery Honor book a wonderful choice for recording. O'Karma's reading, with its hint of cross-gender differentiation, allows the listener to feel as if Charlotte Doyle herself were relating the tale. This story should be particularly alluring to adolescent girls although the fast-paced action and the nautical setting will also appeal to male listeners. Ages 12-adult.
Ages 12+Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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