Narrator Barrett Wilbert Weed embodies this nameless 15-year-old protagonist as she spins a story about the time she and three friends went to Manhattan to see their favorite boy band, The Ruperts, and wound up kidnapping a Rupert instead. Weed is full of expression that develops the characters' moods--she pauses when the narrator is feeling vulnerable, adds sardonic chuckles, and occasionally breaks into song. She gives each character a distinct voice that reveals personality and motive, particularly after the kidnapped Rupert dies and the featured character scrambles to figure out if one of her friends is a murderer. This suspenseful exploration of the line between fandom and obsession will appeal to those who enjoy dark comedy and give them plenty to think about.
(Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: Feb. 23, 2016
Duration: 7 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780545911054
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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