Abby, who wakes up outside a burning building with no memory of her past, is pulled into Sam’s life and his home in a cave after he rescues her and becomes her family—until she starts to see through the lies he has woven around her. Julia Whelan delivers Abby’s words with the innocence of a girl who can’t remember who she is or where she comes from; Sam’s voice is deeper and gruff, with a slow pace and a slight accent. As Abby begins to remember her past life and discover the truth about herself, Whelan changes her pacing and pitches Abby’s voice higher to convey her agitation before settling down into a more mature, determined tone as Abby comes to grips with what she must do.
Young AdultPub Date: 2011
Duration: 7 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781455822164
Publisher: Brilliance Audio/ Candlewick
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:
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:
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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