In the kingdom of Pergamontio, in days of yore, a servant boy named Fabrizio tries to help his master, Magnus the Magician, figure out royal intrigues that could lead to death for both boy and old man. Will the boy's headstrong choices doom them both—or solve the mystery of the haunted castello? Newbery Medal winner Avi gives us another absorbing adventure, and Jeff Woodman is in top form. He provides listeners intimate access to voices young, old, male, female, and, perhaps, even ghostly. In this tale of magic versus reason, Woodman casts a spell, drawing listeners down twisting stairs lit by flickering candle sconces, revealing his characters at every turn.
Ages 8+Pub Date: July 1, 2010
Duration: 5 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780545174725
Publisher: Scholastic Audiobooks
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Arsenault’s passionate performance brings this alternative world to life.
Fourteen-year-old Tessa lives in a dystopian world with a leader who has banned books and taken away the personal liberties of its citizens. Elise Arsenault establishes a steady pace with her narration. When an older neighbor is taken to elder care, Tessa finds a box of forbidden books in her house that changes everything. Arsenault captures Tessa’s tumultuous emotions as she learns about the past and discovers that her long-lost twin brother, Theo, who disappeared years ago, may still be alive. Fans of Lowry’s The Giver will be intrigued by this world, one that feels frighteningly plausible.
Arsenault’s passionate performance brings this alternative world to life. (Dystopian. 9-12)Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs, 49 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063515130
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2026
A fun listen about standing up for what you believe in.
Sixth grader Jordi Acosta starts to take an interest in activism when two issues become significant in his life. First, books are being banned at the school library, and second, an energy company wants to drill in Yaupon Creek Wildlife Refuge, where he volunteers with his mom, a wildlife biologist who tends to cryptids there. Adi Cabral narrates at a quick pace, with a slightly sassy edge. They bring a wealth of variety to their depictions of middle schooler Jordi and his friends, creating different voices, from impudent to nerdy and nasal. Several characters have Southern accents.
A fun listen about standing up for what you believe in. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: Sept. 22, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs, 9 mins
DD ISBN: 9798349166136
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: yesterday
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2026
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