Stockard Channing adopts a questioning tone that establishes the pure innocence of Bug Contreras, the 10-year-old heroine of Gayle Forman’s first middle-grade fiction. Everything’s changing in Bug’s world in Venice Beach, California, in 1987. Her brother doesn’t want to spend time with her anymore, and Frankie, who’s come from Ohio and might be a replacement, doesn’t want to go to the beach. Channing adopts a guileless tone as Bug struggles to understand the complexities that surround her—gayness, transgenderism, and racism. Channing shifts adroitly and sensitively to the voices of the elders. She deftly portrays their protective instincts, tenderness, and pride in Bug, who is growing up and learning to fight injustices. The characters are beautifully woven into an emotive plot that doesn’t flag or preach, and could aid the young listener in becoming an ally like Bug.
(Fiction. 9-11)Pub Date: Oct. 12, 2021
Duration: 5 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781797129563
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Live Oak Media recently caught our attention with this new read-along book and cassette program. We listened first, and were so delighted we couldn't wait to get the book. The picture book made the experience even better, but the audio recordings was strong and vibrant by itself. THE GARDENER, Sarah Stewart's Depression-era story of a young girl sent to live with her Uncle Jim in the city has a sweet, wistful quality with narration alone, but coupled with David Small's soft-edged pencil illustration, it's a total delight. The reading is repeated on both sides of the tape, one with and without page-turning signals.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: N/A
Publisher: Live Oak Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Devon warmly depicts a quirky and loving family with his engaging performance.
Narrator Chris Devon returns for a bravura performance of this sweet, silly, and poignant second installment in Wood’s series. Seagull Gully and badger Septimus are busy raising their three chicks, and an already hectic household becomes that much more chaotic when a group of forest badgers comes for an extended visit. They want to dig a den where?! With his British accent and excellent pronunciation of Italian words, Devon immerses listeners in their various adventures and misadventures and conjures the many delights of the seaside town where they live. Gully’s dialogue consists exclusively of “Caw,” and Devon injects impressive variation and emotion into each utterance.
Devon warmly depicts a quirky and loving family with his engaging performance. (Fiction. 7-10)Pub Date: May 5, 2026
Duration: 2 hrs, 52 mins
DD ISBN: 9798349115998
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: yesterday
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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