When three characters are closely linked in a story, it's imperative that the narrator select unique voices for each person. My Heartbeat is a love triangle, delicately unfolded by young Ellen, who adores her older brother, Link, and falls from puppy love into intimate love with Link's best friend, James. Yet high school rumor has it that James and Link used to be more than friends. As Ellen tries to figure out all the relationships in her life, she comes to realize that sometimes you just can't know everything about a person. Christy Carlson Romano is a tender Ellen--changing from a sweet naïf to a mature young woman while never losing her thoughtful introspection. Unfortunately, it's hard to distinguish Ellen's inner thoughts from Link's and James's when voice changes are too subtle.
Young AdultPub Date: Jan. 22, 2003
Duration: 3 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A powerful journey toward authenticity.
Shannon Tyo’s narration fully embodies the prideful spirit of Elena Ok, a 17-year-old Korean American influencer who lives in luxury thanks to her brand and her family’s clothing business. But when the Oks lose everything, the family moves to a remote farm town and into a rundown house with no Wi-Fi or furniture. Tyo perfectly captures Elena’s misery; she’s undone not just by the lack of reception but also the feeling that she’s being left out of her family’s efforts to unite and move forward. Listeners understand Elena’s pain and feelings of loss through dialogue that sparks with sarcasm. Tyo marks Elena’s gradual understanding that true connection is with family and community, not the empty superficiality that dominated her past.
A powerful journey toward authenticity. (Fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217280834
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2026
A voice that turns verse into lived experience, lingering long after the final line.
Author Sawyerr delivers a raw, intimate performance that captures a teenager’s guarded bravado and quiet vulnerability. She inhabits Truth with striking authenticity, balancing sharp, rhythmic slam poetry with softer, uncertain inner reflections. Sawyerr’s vocal shifts—sounding sometimes defiant, sometimes aching—give dimension to a young woman navigating family tension, fractured friendships, and an unplanned pregnancy. The format, free verse mixed with journal entries, poetry prompts, and text messages, feels especially suited to audio, allowing Sawyerr’s cadence and timing to heighten emotional impact. Refreshingly, the story moves quickly beyond Truth’s decision to have an abortion, captivating listeners with an honest, immediate portrait of her evolving sense of self.
A voice that turns verse into lived experience, lingering long after the final line.Pub Date: Feb. 10, 2026
Duration: N/A
DD ISBN: 9798899744747
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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