In his journal, contemporary teen Ovid expresses thoughts about himself and fellow high school students as they deal with “the messes the gods got us into.” His journal consists of poems, drawings, and narrative entries that mix stories of the teen Ovid’s real life with tales of historical mythology (like those retold by the Roman poet Ovid). David Franco gives Ovid a realistic teen voice, but at times his narration sounds mechanical as he details the character’s modern trials and tribulations. James Franco is more expressive as he delivers Ovid’s poems. The inclusion of both contemporary teen slang and ancient-sounding poetry, along with the large cast of characters, abundance of figurative language, and references to classic myths, makes this short novel difficult to follow. The audiobook will be more accessible if the listener has the book in hand. This will also provide access to Ovid’s drawings, done in ink by Tom Franco, which are an integral part of the journal.
Young AdultPub Date: Nov. 10, 2010
Duration: 2 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781441890221
Publisher: Brilliance Audio/ Candlewick
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
This duo delivers a fascinating web of deceit and magical thrills.
Two women are caught up in a thrilling magical duel in this YA audiobook. Tamsin, voiced by Jo Yuan, is pressured by her famous magician father to follow in his career. Yuan narrates with assertive bluster, emphasizing Tamsin’s desire to escape from beneath her father’s thumb no matter what it takes. Sam, voiced by Mirai, wants revenge on Tamsin’s father, even if it means sending her infamous champion into the dueling ring to destroy his only daughter. Mirai narrates with meticulous care, perfectly conveying Sam’s scheming nature. But Tamsin doesn’t know Sam’s true goals, and as the two connect, they can’t help finding comfort in each other.
This duo delivers a fascinating web of deceit and magical thrills. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 10, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798217279890
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2026
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