This Newbery Honor Book has appeared on many lists of best books for young adults and continues to be enjoyed by teens. Jerome Foxworthy and Bix Rivers are outsiders in the seventh grade. Jerome is the first (and only) black to integrate the school, and Bix has big troubles at home with a mentally ill mother and a stepfather who ignores him. The unlikely friendship of the two teens centers on the basketball court as Jerome teaches moves to Bix. James’s performance differentiates each character, successfully capturing the rhythm of Southern speech patterns and dialects. This complex, sophisticated plot also contains a lot about the technical aspects of basketball. James rises to the challenge of balancing the personal stories of the two boys with the finer points of the sport. While it might take one or more rereadings to understand the story, this recording goes a long way to making it more accessible to young adults.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2009
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780061902673
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Reader Michael Prichard delivers a convincing rendition of Archie Goodwin, the burly right hand of the portly Nero Wolfe, world-renowned gourmand and detective. Prichard preserves the 1970s setting and 1950s origins of the story, bringing listeners a well-paced narration of murder and politics--a combination of elements that usually guarantees an exciting listen. This audio entertainment is as well formed and fragrant as one of Wolfe's hothouse orchids (the stout sleuth cultivates them by the hundreds in his town house greenhouse) as Goodwin walks us through an explosive murder investigation and political wheeling and dealing in a tough yet intelligent read.
Pub Date: Jan. 15, 2006
Duration: 5 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Audio Partners
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This collection of eight short stories contains gentle tales of fantasy and magic--not the magic of wizards and wands, but of wishing mats and enormous cats and gifts brought by the winds. In a lovely English accent, Lizza Aiken quietly narrates these stories in which magic and good fortune often come to those who deserve it. Although her pitch changes little, she registers a range of emotions--from the sadness of a girl whose necklace of raindrops has been stolen to the joy of a child who moves from a hard life and a ramshackle trailer to a happy home amid the clouds. A NECKLACE OF RAINDROPS would make a soothing choice for a family car trip after a long day.
Ages 6+Pub Date: Jan. 5, 2016
Duration: 1 hr, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781101915721
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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