Narrator Malcolm Hamilton adeptly matches his delivery to this graphic novel's dark mood. Davie is a somber teen who is invited by the jocular Joe Quinn to experience the outbursts of the poltergeist that haunts his home. Listeners will need an ear tuned for this production's accent and uncommon words from the north of England. In a soft but sardonic tenor, Hamilton conveys Davie's obvious dislike for Joe Quinn, his lingering grief over his sister's death, and his disdain for religion. When Father Kelly is invited to experience the spirit, the listener discovers his fondness for drink. Hamilton slurs his words as the priest confides his own religious misgivings. Hamilton reveals Davie's gentler nature when he converses affectionately with his mother. Davie ponders life, death, and the afterlife in this affecting story.
. (Graphic novella. 12-16)Pub Date: Sept. 10, 2019
Duration: 51 mins
DD ISBN: 9781974972296
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Ivan Mok, Quyen Ngo, and a full cast narrate this award-winning 2020 graphic novel. Mok portrays 13-year-old English-speaking Tien, and Ngo portrays his mother, Helen, a Vietnamese refugee. Mok shows Tien's confusion as he crushes on a male classmate. Ngo conveys Helen's despair at losing her own mother and her longing for the past. Mother and son have always bridged language differences and found connection by reading fairy tales together, so it makes perfect sense that these actors' on-target depictions are interwoven with dramatic, beautifully rendered scenes from stories that resemble "The Little Mermaid," "Tattercoats," and others. Throughout, well-cued sound effects aid in setting scenes, while a superb musical score differentiates contemporary and fantasy settings.
(Fiction. 13-17)Pub Date: April 1, 2025
Duration: 1 hr, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217072811
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A full cast, backed by sound effects and music, transform this queer adaptation of Jane Austen's EMMA from the graphic novel to an audiobook. High school senior and Instagram influencer Evan, a leader in his high school's LGBTQ+ student association, sees himself as Cupid and can't resist the opportunity to set up shy and dowdy newcomer Natalia--despite the warnings of his best friend, Davi. Mark Sanderlin's age-appropriate voice projects Evan's emotions. The subplots are helped by the other cast members' ease with portraying their characters. Examples include André Santana's capable depiction of Davi's growing frustration and Shannon Tyo's high-pitched, fast-paced presentation of the chatterbox Anika.
(Graphic fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2024
Duration: 1 hr, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668644126
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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