Dark, dismal, and scary—and no, it's not a horror novel (unless you're the parent of teenagers). Hopkins's novel follows the story of Kristina and her involvement in drugs, sex, and rape. Despite Kristina’s dreadful encounters, the writing and narration of this work are a true treasure. Hopkins has written the text in free verse, which is amazing in itself, and Laura Flanagan’s narration takes the story to a completely new height. Sounding like a young, scared teenager, Flanagan makes it impossible for the listener to turn off the recording. She uses Hopkins’s carefully chosen line breaks as cues for adolescent vocal inflections and gives the impression that she has read, contemplated, and understood every single one of Hopkins's words. As depressing and shocking as it can be, this production is riveting.
Young AdultPub Date: Feb. 4, 2008
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: HighBridge Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This young adult audiobook is full of secrets and lies.
When they were 4, identical twins Aria and Caliste’s mother, Grace, disappeared, and the sisters were separated. Years later, Grace’s body is discovered in a lake haunted by the Ghoul. The two young women travel to Minnesota and uncover family secrets—including each other’s existence. Narrators Rebecca Ho and Chantria Tram capture the twins’ emotions as they discover what has been kept hidden from them. Carolina Do exquisitely performs the point of view of the Ghoul. However, audible pick-ups make this production sound uneven and may distract from the listening experience.
This young adult audiobook is full of secrets and lies.Pub Date: Dec. 9, 2025
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217157983
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Feb. 10, 2026
Narrator Phoebe Strole's expert approach to this contemporary fantasy shines. Winnie is one of the four Farthing sisters who've been told they're descendants of Persephone, the Greek goddess of the dead. While talking to the dead had always been the norm for the sisters, it wasn't until Winnie accidentally banished a resident ghost that she came to believe that she and her sisters could be special. When the underworld attempts to converge with their world, the Farthing girls must rise to the challenge of stopping them. Strole delivers the story with poise and an occasional sprinkle of humor. The dialogue between these four sisters--simple and airy as delivered by Strole--makes the story flow.
(Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Dec. 2, 2025
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217290291
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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