Best known for her Gossip Girls series of teen mysteries, Von Ziegesar's stand-alone audiobook is driven by character and relationships. Merritt, a teen who is a heavy drinker, meets an uncontrollable thoroughbred named Red, and girl and horse change each other significantly. Narrators Sandy Rustin and Luis Moreno use well-chosen voices and pacing as they deliver the characters' alternating points of view. Their performance positively elevates the written text as Rustin's teenager and Moreno's horse--with his delightfully cognizant interior monologues and insights--unfold their singular and connected stories. Listeners who have outgrown BLACK BEAUTY, as well as those with an interest in quirky psychological realism, won't be disappointed. That Moreno doesn't sing the well-placed classic rock songs Red hears on his companion radio is a forgivable bow to copyright necessity.
(Fiction. 12-16)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2016
Duration: 8 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781501936487
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Together, Vilinsky and Chastain’s performances create a forbidden and magnetic chemistry.
Narrators Jesse Vilinsky and Zac Chastain give heartwarming performances in this teen small-town baseball romance. Eliza Crowley has always loved two things in life: baseball and light design for the theater. Wanting to be seen more as the town's rich girl, Eliza plans to spend her summer focusing on a community theater production—until Reed Fulton, a pitcher for a rival baseball team, returns to town. Vilinsky’s energetic tone and nuanced pacing embody Eliza’s strength and love for her family and for theater. Reed is also dedicated to his family, and to baseball, and Chastain’s rich, warm timbre reflects his devotion.
Together, Vilinsky and Chastain’s performances create a forbidden and magnetic chemistry.Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 20 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217280810
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2026
A sweeping fantasy elevated by a balanced narration.
Joe Jameson’s versatile performance of this audiobook drives the listening experience. This fantasy follows four teenagers chosen to wield elemental powers to stop an encroaching eternal night. Jameson narrates with distinct vocal characterizations, shifting smoothly between youthful humor and heavier emotional beats. His pacing keeps listeners grounded through complex worldbuilding while sustaining momentum during action scenes. Particularly notable is his restrained, empathetic handling of one character’s psychosis. Jameson’s narration emphasizes emotional authenticity, allowing listeners to connect with characters’ struggles as much as with the adventure itself.
A sweeping fantasy elevated by a balanced narration. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 24, 2026
Duration: 12 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668162460
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: March 17, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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