His mother's untimely death forces 16-year-old Joey Crouch to travel from Chicago to a small town in Iowa to live with Harnett, the father he has never known. Incessantly bullied by teachers and students, Joey discovers the awful truth behind the foul odor that permeates the shack he shares with Harnett. Far from being the "Garbage Man's" son, as his classmates believe, Joey learns that he is heir to the ancient tradition of grave robbing. Kirby Heyborne expertly plumbs the depths of Joey's despair and growing fascination with the grotesque trappings of his new occupation. As Heyborne relentlessly draws the listener into the ghastly details of the grave, he creates distinctive, bone-chilling voices for Harnett, the evil Boggs, and the community of diggers in this shocking YA novel.
Ages 14+Pub Date: March 27, 2012
Duration: 16 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780307941817
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Listeners follow Merry, the longbow girl, one of the best archers in her town. When she finds a magical portal in the forest that takes her back to sixteenth-century Wales, she must use her skills to win an archery contest in order to help her ancestors keep their land. While narrator Emily Wilden brings protagonist Merry to life with a rich Welsh accent, her narration seems uneven at times. All the period characters have accents that reflect the setting of the story and transport listeners to Wales. Listeners who enjoy historical fiction and a bit of fantasy will be charmed by this tale of determination, hope, and family.
Young AdultPub Date: N/A
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781501916793
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In 1832 thirteen-year-old Charlotte Doyle is sailing from Liverpool to Rhode Island to rejoin her family. Shocked to discover that the families who were to have been both guardians and companions will not accompany her, Charlotte embarks on a journey filled with terror and swashbuckling adventure. The first-person narrative makes this Newbery Honor book a wonderful choice for recording. O'Karma's reading, with its hint of cross-gender differentiation, allows the listener to feel as if Charlotte Doyle herself were relating the tale. This story should be particularly alluring to adolescent girls although the fast-paced action and the nautical setting will also appeal to male listeners. Ages 12-adult.
Ages 12+Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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