A dual narration represents the alternating voices of two brothers, Jay and Max. Each is affected in a different way by their father’s physical abuse. But both unite to beat up the school soccer star, who appears to be assaulting their cousin. Timothy Pabon delivers Jay’s thoughtful prose vignettes, expressing his solidness and sense of responsibility, along with his feelings of fierce anger, fear, loneliness, and sadness at the rift with his brother. Pabon gives an excellent rendition of the Bribri (indigenous Costa Rican language) words that appear in the text and that color Jay’s thoughts. Alejandro Ruiz delivers the free-form poetry of Jay’s younger brother, Max. Bursts of language reveal Max’s fierce drive for self-protection, passion for art, and disregard for anything that could interfere with his determination to escape his trauma.
(Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2023
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: OrangeSky 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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