Angel Pean narrates this powerful middle-grade novel in verse, told from the perspective of Rain, a Black eighth grader who battles depression. Rain's hero is her popular, brilliant, and athletic brother, Xander. Her world is upended when he is attacked on a recruiting trip to a predominantly white university, and he becomes a "hashtag." The story brings listeners behind the hashtag to the victim, the families, and the friends. Pean's nuanced performance honors the difficult topics of depression, racism, grief, and trauma. Her deliberate and, at times, heavy pacing embodies the emotional weight of Rain's world. Listeners will cry with Rain and root for her and her family. This audiobook gives young people permission to own their feelings and to find ways to heal.
(Verse novel. 10-14)Pub Date: Sept. 27, 2022
Duration: 4 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063159754
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Arserio perfectly captures Hafsa’s boldness as she fights for herself and others.
Narrator Shiromi Arserio establishes a determined voice for Hafsa, a Pakistani village girl who longs to attend a summer science camp focused on medicine in the city to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. At first, her parents firmly reject the idea, but after her sister’s husband insists that Hafsa could stay with them, her father relents. Arserio beautifully portrays Hafsa’s disappointment when she learns that the camp’s topic is climate change instead of medicine, and her resilience when she makes the most of it anyway. When Hafsa takes up the cause of finding a new home with better conditions for an elephant at the local zoo, Arserio’s energetic narration brings the story to life.
Arserio perfectly captures Hafsa’s boldness as she fights for herself and others. (Fiction. 9-13)Pub Date: March 10, 2026
Duration: 4 hrs, 24 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217280414
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: April 7, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2026
A heartfelt audiobook for the entire family to enjoy.
With a youthful voice, Jeff Ebner brings much emotion to this realistic middle-grade novel. Ten-year-old Nathan Savage is consumed with worry that the gigantic pile of trash across the street from his home is about to collapse. He’s even more worried that his father, who works at the top of said pile, is in extreme danger. It’s up to Nathan to devise a flawless plan to save the day. Ebner’s fast-paced, energetic narration moves the action along, engaging young listeners to the very last word.
A heartfelt audiobook for the entire family to enjoy. (Fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: March 10, 2026
Duration: 4 hrs, 55 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217280445
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: April 1, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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