Almost from the moment Jack boards the ferry to take him to his summer job as a companion to two children, he gets a feeling of foreboding, and it's not just because he's moving to a privately owned island with no Internet or cell phone service. Kirby Heyborne narrates Jack's detailed letters home, perfectly expressing the gradual change in the teen's personality from a subtle feeling of unease to the outright fear of seeing ghosts and amping up the terror as Jack descends into paranoia and anger. In this updated version of Henry James's TURN OF THE SCREW, Heyborne's voice is sometimes too mature for a high schooler, and listeners may be put off by his underlying tone of earnestness. Amy Rubinate is believable as Jack's girlfriend, and Grover Gardner turns in a fine performance as Jack's father.
(Fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: Sept. 25, 2012
Duration: 5 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780062201782
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Castano captures the message of this teen paranormal romance: Never let life pass you by.
Sylvie Castellano goes on an unexpected adventure with a vintage gold watch and Penn, the ghost who comes along with it. Barbara Castano’s narration expresses 18-year-old Sylvie’s loneliness. She’s recovering from a concussion, and while her family members' lives continue without her without her, Sylvie wishes for a more fulfilled life; she wants to have fun as well as take on new responsibilities. Alongside Penn, Sylvie embarks on a series of summer activities, which Castano describes beautifully. But Castano's optimistic tones turn grave as the story unfolds.
Castano captures the message of this teen paranormal romance: Never let life pass you by. (Speculative romance. 14-18)Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 16 mins
DD ISBN: 9781547619481
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: April 7, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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