Narrator Julia Whelan drops easily into the uneasy mind and tormented heart of Annabelle Agnelli. The story opens as the 18-year-old is running from Seattle to Washington, DC. Each chapter contains memories that color her present. Though the entire reason she's running isn't clear until the ending, Whelan characterizes Annabelle's wavering moods and the strength of her underlying determination. She also dramatizes the fear and grief that block Annabelle's ability to escape the memories of someone she calls "The Taker." Whelan winds listeners through the story, building the tension and depicting the confusion of Annabelle's PTSD. These are balanced with the tenderness of her quirky, adoring Italian grandfather and an emerging new love. This powerful story speaks to the Me Too movement and school violence.
(Fiction. 14-adult)Pub Date: 2018
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781508263302
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
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:
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:
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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