Angela Ness's accents add to the atmosphere of this historical YA novel set on the coast of Scotland in 1940. At age 15, half-Jamaican Louisa Adair is orphaned, and she leaves London to take a job caring for Jane, an elderly German woman. At Jane's niece's pub in Windyedge, Louisa meets Ellen McEwan, a volunteer driver for the nearby RAF base, and Jamie Beaufort-Stuart, a pilot. When a German defector hides an Enigma machine at the pub, all four become involved in decoding messages about German attacks. Narrating a story with multiple points of view, an international crew of fighter pilots, and even the occasional song, Ness has her work cut out for her. The developing friendships amid stark reminders of war make this a gripping listen.
(Historical fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2020
Duration: 11 hrs
Publisher: Bolinda 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: N/A
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: N/A
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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