Narrator Sarah Naughton imbues the titular Gold Rush girl, 13-year-old Victoria, with all the pluckiness of the spirited heroines of nineteenth-century novels. Tory is tired of following the strict social mores imposed by her imperious aunt in Providence, Rhode Island. Instead, she aspires to a life of freedom and self-determination. When her father loses his job and leaves for San Francisco, expecting to make a fortune in gold, Tory stows away on the ship. Naughton's voice is enthusiastic, flagging only with Tory's spirits and portraying her disappointment when she discovers how filthy and lawless San Francisco is. But Tory bravely forges ahead, and with a light tone and brisk pace, Naughton keeps listeners engaged as Tory embarks on her adventure in the Wild West.
(Historical fiction. 10-13)Pub Date: March 10, 2020
Duration: 7 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781799748489
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A classic story of high adventure and conflict between good and evil placed in the mythical land of Prydain, The Book of Three is read grippingly and enchantingly by Chris King. Vocal switches are mostly smooth with a few minor pronunciation slips which are quickly corrected. King's voice is clear, easy to understand and memorable, giving the listener a sense of the characters as well as a pronunciation guide to those incredible Gaelic names Alexander uses. Both the characters and the story linger in the mind's eye because of the quality of narration. This is surely a reading that can be listened to again and again and will leave the listeners asking for the entire Prydain series on tape.
AGES 8+Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 5 hrs
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Posy Bates is back, this time with a dog left over from a pet show. Back also are baby Fred and her friend, Sam. But the star of the show is Posy herself, an energetic nine-year-old with a penchant for misadventure. Judy Bennett's rendering of each of the characters in this episodic family story is right on the mark. Her enunciation and impeccable timing clarify the idiomatic text so that its unusual words become another aspect of the book's pleasure. The irrepressible Posy is her greatest challenge, and Bennett gets high marks. She bubbles with enthusiasm, wails and squeals, and dies over and over again. "It's positively brilling!"
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 1 hr
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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