Leslie Bellair narrates Cremer's story of an alternative America, a steampunk land that lost the Revolutionary War and suffers as an oppressed British territory. Bellair's lilting voice suits the character of 16-year-old Charlotte, who lives in hiding as a member of the American resistance movement. In the dialogue, Bellair captures Charlotte's concern for her new friend, Grave, and the earnest hopes of both young people as they journey to the city to discover Grave's identity. In the narrative, however, Bellair's delivery is clipped and brisk, creating an overly perky effect that might have been softened by more fluid phrasing. Cremer's inventive mechanical creatures and sympathetic characters help smooth the stiff presentation. Curiosity about Charlotte's suitors and Grave's past will keep listeners attentive--as will the cliff-hanger ending, which promises future installments.
(Steampunk. 12 & up)Pub Date: April 22, 2014
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780698146785
Publisher: Penguin Audio
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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