Schmidt’s sparse writing sings with rhythms and repetitions that soften this story’s difficult subject matter. Narrator Christopher Gebauer maximizes the author’s lyrical style as his pacing and pauses enhance the story’s poignancy. In the voice of Gebauer, 12-year-old Jack’s first-person narrative is filled with wonder as his innocence is sometimes sparked and sometimes strained by the arrival of his 14-year-old foster brother, Joseph. Gebauer emphasizes Joseph’s clipped speech, depicting the defensiveness that shields his vulnerability. The portrayals of Jack’s parents dramatize their belief in Joseph, who has been abused by his father, suffered the death of the one girl who loved him, and faced the cruelties of a social system that has failed him dismally. This audiobook is short in length, long on heartbreak.
(Fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2015
Duration: 3 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781490681139
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
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
Readers will be drawn into this thrilling and satisfying journey.
Khristine Hvam brilliantly brings both the story and the characters to life in this dramatic and compelling retelling of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale. Pia and her brother Max have been isolated on a farm in Maine since they were quite young. When their father breaks his leg, Pia must take over many of his chores, including regular visits to town. As Pia begins to discover the wider world and her father’s duplicity, Hvam’s pacing amplifies the suspense. With a wide vocal range, Hvam provides each character with a distinct voice, and she’s just as believable conveying 16-year-old Pia’s emotions as she is portraying Pia’s father.
Readers will be drawn into this thrilling and satisfying journey. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2026
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668654996
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: March 10, 2026
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