Sheldon is a young man whose parents are taken from him at a young age and under questionable circumstances. Narrator Michael Crouch brings us this lively coming-of-age story, set in the late 1930s and early 1940s. His narration is playful and smart, keeping up with Sheldon's arch observations on life in the northern United States. Listeners who are looking for a mix of history and personal exploration will find much to enjoy throughout Sheldon's quest to get to the bottom of his father's death. Set against the backdrop of WWII and the intricacies of Jewish-American identity, this unique title and Crouch's capable delivery will appeal to those who are looking for something out of the ordinary.
Pub Date: July 27, 2021
Duration: 12 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780358450498
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Ayla, one of the "others," is adopted by a clan of Neanderthal cave people. She struggles to conform to their ways, but her advanced human traits overwhelm and threaten their primitive culture in this initial installment of an immensely popular series. Although the story might benefit from abridgment, Rowena Cooper easily carries out the formidable task of enlivening the mostly silent and stereotypical characters with consistent, diverse personalities and human dimension. Through skillful phrasing and inflection, she maintains the reader's interest and suspense, especially with Ayla and her plight, throughout this rambling and imaginative story.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This lyrical, sensual novel of woman's lot in Manchu, China, is as well researched as it is well written. Authentic in tone, it's nonetheless written for Westerners by a Western expert on China. Moreover, Susan Clark performs the demanding text superbly, with only occasional signs of fatigue. For the most part she not only sustains the quaint diction and Asian atmosphere, but also, creates whole worlds with her voice. She acts the book, rather than reads it, and, in so doing, turns a pretty trifle into a stupendous beauty.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Audio Literature
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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