Candice Iloh gives a gripping performance of this semi-autobiographical novel in verse. Listeners will meet Ada, the daughter of a Nigerian father who is unaccepting of American customs and an African-American mother who is mentally ill. Ada's life is difficult. Nonetheless, she explores her sexuality and wants to study dance rather than accounting. Iloh unhesitatingly portrays Ada in grade school and in college, where she experiences her first taste of freedom. This coming-of-age story is enhanced by an unflinching look at child sexual abuse and the pressure placed upon a first-generation immigrant to meet family expectations. Iloh excels with portraying the polar opposite parents and in contrasting bullying versus supportive classmates. Verse makes audio a must for this exceptional story.
(Verse novel. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 22, 2020
Duration: 3 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780593288429
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A moving exploration of consequences, making amends, and figuring out who you are and what kind of person you want to be.
The second-person perspective of this thoughtful audiobook makes the experiences of the two 14-year-old boys at its center feel immediate and relatable. Narrators Major Curda and Arya Shahi deliver the points of view of Dayton and Farshid in alternating chapters. When Dayton yells a homophobic slur at an assembly, the repercussions follow him beyond suspension. The fallout also affects his classmate Farshid, who begins to question his own identity, working out obsessively and clashing with his mom. Curda and Shahi’s performances make it easy for listeners to empathize with both boys. Sound effects, while not strictly necessary, add texture to the production and evoke the soundscape of high school.
A moving exploration of consequences, making amends, and figuring out who you are and what kind of person you want to be. (Fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: March 17, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250433350
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2026
As the friends help each other negotiate life, Anton develops a vulnerability that transforms him into a nurturing leader.
Narrator Michael Ajao easily depicts 14-year-old Anton’s swagger, maximizing the wit of the writing and the hubris that makes Anton and his mates feel like kings. Ajao excels at accents and quickly distinguishes between different classes and personalities—from the fast, spicy dialogue of Anton’s South London friends to the gentleness of his grandmother. Anton’s mother enrolls him in the Happy Campers, a community service group. When he’s paired with loner Matthew, who saves his life after a bee sting, they become unlikely secret friends. Ajao expresses the way Matthew’s soft vulnerability tames Anton’s toxic masculinity and the way Anton’s sarcasm teaches Matthew about the world.
As the friends help each other negotiate life, Anton develops a vulnerability that transforms him into a nurturing leader. (Fiction. 12-16)Pub Date: March 10, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 24 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668654521
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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