by Duncan Tonatiuh ; illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh ; Read by Timothy Andrés Pabon ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 22, 2018
Tim Andrés Pabon narrates this realistic fictional account of Juan, an undocumented worker. Pabon delivers this first-person narrative in a conversational tone, his accented English suggesting Juan's Mixteco background. With an earnest and eager voice, Juan seeks employment to help his family. In the background, listeners hear the sounds of dishwashers, food deliverers, and flower sellers. Juan finds restaurant work and meets a Chinese waitress who introduces him to a group of workers united in their struggle for fair wages and decent working conditions. Music and sound effects help set the mood of family life, meetings, and protests. Regardless of one's political persuasion, this story is valuable for its introduction to an American subculture that many Americans may not know or understand.
(Graphic novel. 8-14)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2018
Duration: 18 mins
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
by Alison Bechdel ; Read by Alison Bechdel , Holly Rae Taylor , Jenn Colella , Adenrele Ojo , Ali Liebegott , Christina Delaine , Renata Friedman , Joe Barrett , Maggi-Meg Reed , Kimberly Farr , Hayden Bishop , Keylor Leigh , Dan Bittner , Bill McKibben , Gilli Messer & Naomi Liv Joseffy ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 15, 2025
Sixteen narrators offer a humorous take on contemporary culture, with Bechdel as the deadpan narrator. While her friends navigate their first throuple and her wife, Holly, garners fame as a wood-chopping influencer, Alison is stuck. Her first book has been adapted into a successful TV show, but she struggles with a follow-up. Perhaps writing a script about rejecting consumer capitalism will get her back on track? In the end, simply spending time with friends puts her back in the creative saddle. Standouts include Holly Rae Taylor's heartfelt optimism as Holly, Jenn Colella's wit as Alison, and Joe Barrett's fumbling innocence as Stuart. Sound effects immerse listeners in each scene, and Bechdel's sardonic take on the group's liberal leanings reminds fans of what makes her work special.
Pub Date: July 15, 2025
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063278950
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
by Mike Curato ; Read by Mike Curato , Nicky Endres , Earl T Kim , Dustin Vuong Nguyen , Shawn K. Jain , Telly Leung , Greg D. Barnett , Katrina Reese Curato , Dara Brown & Susan Moon ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 3, 2025
Awards & Accolades
Our Verdict
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A full cast brings this graphic novel to life on audio. Author Mike Curato narrates in an innocent tone as AJ, who is new to Seattle and anxious to break into the gay dating scene. When he crashes into a gorgeous drag queen, K, she sweeps him into her "Boy Luck Club." Nicky Endres brings elegance to their portrayal of K, who mothers the group of gay Asian friends while hiding her own pain. Earl T Kim voices John, a gamer with a deep, resonant voice and major insecurities about crushing on his flirtatious roommate, Steven, who is depicted with skill by Dustin Vuong Nguyen. The story shifts among the various points of view, giving a window onto the characters' past lives, and their futures together.
Pub Date: June 3, 2025
Duration: 4 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668650448
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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