Narrators Christian Barillas and Gail Shalan believably voice two teens who are trying to navigate their worlds while wanting more from their lives. Alberto, portrayed by Barillas, is an 18-year-old undocumented Mexican immigrant with an undiagnosed mental illness. He often hears a voice berating him and encouraging negative behavior. Shalan portrays Grace, a Jewish high school senior from a privileged background. Alberto and Grace form an immediate bond. Alberto's circumstances make him vulnerable, and he's accused of murder. Grace is certain of his innocence and attempts to prove it. Barillas and Shalan narrate alternating chapters, infusing their performances with emotion and urgency. Both effectively use accents for various characters and Spanish when necessary. A sound effect, doubling Barillas's voice, effectively suggests Alberto's voices.
(Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: July 18, 2023
Duration: 6 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781339028705
Publisher: Scholastic Audiobooks
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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