Narrator Sophie Amoss creates a youthful voice for 17-year-old Bea, who after dying tragically in a car accident is stuck in purgatory while waiting to ascend to heaven. While there, she is assigned to mentor another teen, Caleb, who doesn't know he was responsible for the car accident that took her life. Bea plans to keep him from leaving as punishment for ending her life prematurely, but as she learns more about him, her feelings soften, and she must decide whether she can forgive him. Amoss easily navigates from one character to the other, creating unique voices for each of the teens. Listeners who enjoy realistic characters and a touch of the unknown will be drawn to this story.
(Fiction. 13-17)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2020
Duration: 7 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781980060260
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
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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