This sequel picks up right where ACROSS THE UNIVERSE left off. Elder and Amy are trying to shepherd their failing spaceship to a safe planet, suppress a mutiny among the ship’s citizens, keep Amy’s cryogenically frozen parents safe, and solve the mystery of why the former Elders were drugging the population. Chapters alternate between the points of view of Amy and Elder, so Tara Carrozza and Lucas Salvagno get equal opportunity to perform. Carrozza’s husky voice accurately depicts Amy’s teen angst and frustrations. Although his general narration is fine, Salvagno’s dialogue can be quite sibilant or overdentalized—in particular, he hits the letter “t” especially hard. The story is dramatic, and the narration keeps that spirit. Fans of the first book will be happy with the continuation of the story.
(Science fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: Jan. 10, 2012
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781101539606
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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