Narrator Michael Crouch portrays Neruda Diaz's quest for romance as the 16-year-old imagines a love life like that of the Chilean poet for whom he was named, Pablo Neruda. The fictional Neruda has been sheltered by his loving parents, his devotion to art, and dreams of love. Crouch expresses both Neruda's innocence and his horror when his reality is shattered as he discovers that his parents' marriage is not stable, his artistic vision can be sabotaged, and his classmate, Callie, is more difficult to court than he'd imagined. Neruda's reactions are confused and sometimes hurtful as he learns that he must experience life's messiness before he can find its beauty and truth. Crouch's dramatizations of minor characters add dimension to the story. In particular, his depiction of Callie makes her passionate nature vivid and Neruda's attraction understandable.
(Fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2017
Duration: 7 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781524749774
Publisher: Listening Library
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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