Courtney Summers’s powerful story of love, neglect, abuse, and revenge is narrated with irresistible urgency by Rebecca Soler and Dan Bittner, along with an ensemble of supporting narrators. The daughter of a drug-addicted mother, Sadie was left to care for herself and her younger sister, Mattie. When Mattie is murdered, Sadie sets out to identify the killer. Summers’s writing is compelling, and Soler and Bittner keep listeners glued to this grim account. Part anguished road trip and part expository podcast, the set-up works well and relieves a bit of tension. Soler excels as the tortured, stuttering Sadie, and Bittner wrings every drop of compassion from radio producer West McCray. Some voices are better suited to their characters than others, but this is a production that will not be forgotten.
(Thriller. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 4, 2018
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781250300911
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A stellar, immersive auditory experience.
Stunning. Brilliant. Vulnerable. Righteous. Zeno Robinson’s dynamic narration makes this clever political and environmental thriller a tour de force. Benton Young, a love-struck high school senior, posts an earnest and passionate online plea for young people to stand up and demand better for their future. His post galvanizes a youth revolution, and Benton is elected president of the United States. As the movement spreads across the world, more young people are elected to lead nations. As Benton faces roadblocks from problematic adults in government and complicated geopolitics, he realizes that building a new world order is hard—and deadly. Robinson’s nimble and dynamic performance is accompanied by newscasts, social media posts, and intelligence reports, all delivered by a full cast. Listeners will have lingering thoughts about the role we play in our own future.
A stellar, immersive auditory experience. (Thriller. 14-18)Pub Date: May 5, 2026
Duration: 15 hrs, 44 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217171972
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: June 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: tomorrow
Watson’s conversational style will delight listeners of all ages.
Marli Watson narrates this first installment of a YA mystery series. Ellen is a prep-school scholarship student who knows how to follow the rules. But her life takes a turn when she moves into her aunt’s Edgar Allan Poe-themed B&B and starts having nightmares about a family who died—including Gus, a new student at school. When Ellen finds a journal that she believes was written by Poe, she meets the ghost of her long-dead relative, who calls himself Eddie. Watson makes the characters believable from the start. She portrays Ellen as feisty, and Gus as a vulnerable charmer. Aunt Marie is sweet, but not too sweet.
Watson’s conversational style will delight listeners of all ages. (Paranormal mystery. 12-18)Pub Date: April 7, 2026
Duration: 7 hrs, 19 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668654774
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: June 23, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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