The triple narration of this novel by Newbery Medalist Vanderpool is stunning. When Kansas native Jack Baker finds himself at a Maine boarding school after his mother’s death, everything is new yet full of connections to his former life. A new friendship with student Early Auden sweeps Jack into a mathematical journey and a quest in the Maine wilderness. Robbie Daymond’s voice is as raw as Jack’s feelings of loss. He trails off and leaves unsettling pauses as Jack questions his surroundings yet provides a firm tone as Jack navigates both physical dangers and new relationships. Daymond gives Early all the awkward bluntness one would expect from “that strangest of boys.” Narrators Cassandra Campbell and Mark Bramhall provide portrayals of the story’s many other memorable characters—ruffians, a reclusive woodsman, a military father, an ancient woman, and an older brother, presumed lost.
(Historical fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: Jan. 8, 2013
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780385361057
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A classic story of high adventure and conflict between good and evil placed in the mythical land of Prydain, The Book of Three is read grippingly and enchantingly by Chris King. Vocal switches are mostly smooth with a few minor pronunciation slips which are quickly corrected. King's voice is clear, easy to understand and memorable, giving the listener a sense of the characters as well as a pronunciation guide to those incredible Gaelic names Alexander uses. Both the characters and the story linger in the mind's eye because of the quality of narration. This is surely a reading that can be listened to again and again and will leave the listeners asking for the entire Prydain series on tape.
AGES 8+Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 5 hrs
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Posy Bates is back, this time with a dog left over from a pet show. Back also are baby Fred and her friend, Sam. But the star of the show is Posy herself, an energetic nine-year-old with a penchant for misadventure. Judy Bennett's rendering of each of the characters in this episodic family story is right on the mark. Her enunciation and impeccable timing clarify the idiomatic text so that its unusual words become another aspect of the book's pleasure. The irrepressible Posy is her greatest challenge, and Bennett gets high marks. She bubbles with enthusiasm, wails and squeals, and dies over and over again. "It's positively brilling!"
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 1 hr
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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