Three narrators deliver Elliott's multifaceted account of Joan of Arc's life. With a range of characterizations, Celeste Ciulla, Saskia Maarleveld, and Luis Moreno embody Joan's thoughts as well as the people in her life, including those involved with her trial. The story also takes the points of view of Joan's sword and armor. The majority of Elliott's account is told in verse, and the narrators work to preserve meaning without leaning too heavily on the rhyme scheme. The pacing gradually builds as Joan reaches the end of her life, when the narrative switches between past and present, characters and objects, to build a more complete picture of Joan's experiences. This is an accessible narrative regardless of one's knowledge of Joan's life.
(Historical verse novel. 13-adult)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2019
Duration: 2 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781980038818
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
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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