The story of what happens when a terrible accident threatens to destroy a community is told from two girls' perspectives in alternating chapters, with Lydia Rose Shahan narrating for Agnes and Julie Swenson for Honey. Born just weeks apart at the Mount Blessing religious commune, Honey and Agnes have grown up as close as sisters. But now, at age 14, their lives have begun to diverge as Agnes strives to become saintly and Honey dreams of escape. Additional narrators take on the parts of the secondary characters, and music clips prepare listeners for the changes in point of view. Shahan's and Swenson's well-matched voices smooth the transitions but are different enough that listeners can easily distinguish between Honey and Agnes.
Young AdultPub Date: Jan. 22, 2010
Duration: 9 hrs
Publisher: Full Cast Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Narrator Shayna Small is excellent as she portrays Leena, a 16-year-old girl who is being raised by her single mother, Asiyah. Leena has always dreamed of being part of a big family, but so far her family is just two people. When an unexpected phone call reveals that she has a Muslim grandfather and great-aunt, Leena is forced to rethink everything about her identity and consider the differences between her secular African American mother and her newly discovered relatives. Small's narration perfectly reflects Leena's emotional journey as she is confronted by questions of identity, family, culture, and faith. Listeners will be invested in Leena's exploration of where she came from, who she is, and what her future holds.
(Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Aug. 26, 2025
Duration: 6 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9798897567874
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Sophie Amoss narrates this story set in nineteenth-century Russia's Jewish communities. After fleeing from an arranged marriage, 17-year-old Sorel navigates gender identity. Sorel assumes the masculine identity Isser Jacobs, only to learn that Isser Jacobs is a real person who sold illegal political pamphlets translated into Yiddish. Magical elements including dybbuks (angels) and demons, some of whom have Russian accents, are interspersed in the story. Characters speak in hushed tones when discussing censorship, growing determined as they seek answers. Sorel often stutters when flustered, and when Sorel becomes Isser, Amoss uses a deeper voice. Amoss masterfully handles the pronunciation of Yiddish and Hebrew words in this solid, well-paced performance.
(Historical fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Dec. 3, 2024
Duration: 6 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798894862484
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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