Stork returns with a reimagining of his 2006 novel, BEHIND THE EYES. Narrator Christian Barillas's facility with accents adds to the believability of 16-year-old Hector, his family, and Joey, a bullying classmate. Time has passed since Hector's father's death. His brother Fili has recovered from depression, and Hector's own life seems rich with potential. Barillas portrays Hector's humility at winning an essay contest, his modesty at being the star of the school chess team, and his timidity around Joey. Just when things are mostly going well, Joey kills Fili. In a fog of despair and blinding rage--fully captured by Barillas--Hector cripples Joey's brother. When Hector and Joey are placed in a military school, Barillas dramatizes Hector's struggles with his conflicting needs for revenge and for healing.
(Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 18, 2021
Duration: 7 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781338774429
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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