Narrators Jennifer Haralson and Andrea Laing deliver a contemporary fantasy with a focus on social justice. Tavia, a siren whose magical power to control others must be kept secret, is portrayed with gentle vulnerability by Haralson. Effie, depicted warmly by Laing, is afflicted with a strange skin condition and has no clues about her heritage. These best friends navigate high school drama, crushes, and the secrets their families keep from them. Chapters alternate first-person perspectives, and a leisurely pace gradually intensifies as a suspected siren’s murder trial unfolds. In a parallel plot, Tavia unleashes her voice during a police stop. While some conversations between characters don't offer enough character differentiation, overall, this is an exciting listen. A.K.R. 2021 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
(Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: June 2, 2020
Duration: 9 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250755018
Publisher: Macmillan 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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