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
The satisfying, cozy resolution affirms the magic of romance, the power of loving a place, and the rewards of taking risks.
Soneela Nankani’s quiet narration carries a wish and a promise, setting the tone for high school junior Calisa’s escape from Brooklyn to her estranged great-aunt’s B&B in Vermont. Calisa, hurt from a breakup, receives a caustic welcome from her Auntie Zee and discovers an inn in disrepair. Nankani gives voice to the inn’s strange guests, who have puzzling manners, and gradually the odd occurrences Calisa notices begin to point in a distinctly enchanted direction. As Calisa travels through the inn’s portals to magical lands, Nankani’s narration helps listeners experience the richness Calisa finds. Tension builds as Auntie Zee goes missing, the inn’s future is threatened, and Calisa must decipher family secrets.
The satisfying, cozy resolution affirms the magic of romance, the power of loving a place, and the rewards of taking risks. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: March 31, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 2 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217171934
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: May 5, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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