Meg Finn dies at the age of 14, ending the miserable life of petty crime she was driven to after her mother died and left her to her shiftless father. Normally, her sins would send her straight to hell. But before her death she carried out one selfless act, and now St. Peter and the devil are fighting over her soul. Is she good--or evil? Given one last chance to save her own soul, Meg must help a bitter old man, the very man she once tried to rob, fulfill his dreams and learn to love life again. At the same time, she must avoid the demon sent by the devil to deliver her to hell. This riveting story is driven by James Wilby's outstanding performance. His vocalizations of the old man and young girl, both Irish, are authentic, and his creativity with otherworldly characters is expert.
Ages 10+Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2003
Duration: 5 hrs, 45 mins
Publisher: Listening Library
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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