Jay Reum's narration captures the divided heart of 13-year-old Canyon Cress, who's holding on for dear life as he rides bulls, cares for his younger sister, and tries to contain his father's drinking and his own grief over his mother's death. Reum's slight Western accent adds to the ambiance of the story. His portrayals of minor characters give authenticity to Canyon's exuberant sister, loving grandmother, and volatile father. Reum's shifts in tone allow listeners to experience the full measure of Canyon--the "never quit cowboy" who strives to make it to the Junior World Bull Riding Championship even as he suffers dangerous concussions. Reum also depicts Canyon's upbeat feelings while playing the fiddle, seemingly demonstrating his mother's musical gift.
(Fiction. 8-13)Pub Date: Oct. 7, 2025
Duration: 5 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781547617470
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Live Oak Media recently caught our attention with this new read-along book and cassette program. We listened first, and were so delighted we couldn't wait to get the book. The picture book made the experience even better, but the audio recordings was strong and vibrant by itself. THE GARDENER, Sarah Stewart's Depression-era story of a young girl sent to live with her Uncle Jim in the city has a sweet, wistful quality with narration alone, but coupled with David Small's soft-edged pencil illustration, it's a total delight. The reading is repeated on both sides of the tape, one with and without page-turning signals.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: N/A
Publisher: Live Oak Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A sensitive performance.
Deepa is a precocious 12-year-old girl in remission from leukemia. Under the tutelage of her uncle, a house call doctor, she becomes involved in solving teen tennis player Taio's puzzling medical mystery. Deepa is unsure of herself, but she’s ready to get back to middle school after a year away for treatment. Narrator Soneela Nankani depicts Deepa's desire to be more than the "sick kid" while navigating her youthful insecurities and the social challenges of middle school. Nankani also ably portrays Deepa's growing confidence in herself as she uses her own experience with illness to help figure out what’s wrong with Taio.
A sensitive performance. (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: July 14, 2026
Duration: 6 hrs, 32 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668182833
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: yesterday
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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