Narrator Mark Sanderlin establishes a youthful voice for 12-year-old Drew, who is dreading a summer without his best friend, who has moved away from Half Moon Bay. Narrator Charley Flyte adds a mellow voice for 12-year-old Mia, who is also spending the summer in Half Moon Bay while her dad heads to Alaska to take care of her sick grandmother. Drew and Mia find solace in preparing for and running a big race later in summer. Sanderlin and Flyte both capture the feelings and emotions of Drew and Mia as their summers become even more tumultuous. Listeners will enjoy this realistic story about the importance of family and friendship, especially during difficult times.
(Fiction. 10-13)Pub Date: June 6, 2023
Duration: 4 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780593740217
Publisher: Listening Library
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
Mirai's renderings of Kestrel, her family, and fellow workers at the institute thoughtfully depict the protagonists' growth.
Kestrel and her mother leave the home in California they share with Kestrel's grandfather, a pastor, to stay at a wildlife conservation institute in Montana. Narrator Mirai's youthful voice is a natural fit for this story of a young girl who at first resents being tricked into leaving California, but who later comes to realize that moving away from their strict home life was the right choice. Mirai employs distinctive voices for the adults, like Kestrel's stern grandfather and her uncertain mother, who begins gaining confidence. An author's note at the end discusses emotional abuse and how to find help.
Mirai's renderings of Kestrel, her family, and fellow workers at the institute thoughtfully depict the protagonists' growth. (Verse fiction. 9-14)Pub Date: May 26, 2026
Duration: 2 hrs, 42 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668175507
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: today
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