The events of this audiobook unfold over the course of a single election day as two Black teens vote for the first time. Robin Eller voices Marva, who is first in line at her polling place. She meets Duke, voiced by Cary Hite, when the poll workers can't find Duke's name on the registration list. Making sure his vote gets counted leads them on a long and winding journey during which Marva's internet-famous cat goes missing and Duke worries about making it to his band's gig. The duet performance ensures that listeners will fall for Marva and Duke even as they're falling for each other; Hite is especially convincing and appealing as Duke. With this novel, Colbert delivers a satisfying blend of character development and lessons about voter suppression, grief, and activism.
(Fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2020
Duration: 6 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781662003929
Publisher: Dreamscape
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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