Narrator Michael Crouch sets exactly the right tone in this satirical take on social justice and teen angst. All Gregor Maravilla wants from Camp Save the World is to meet the legendary Robert Drill and learn how to make an impact through activism. As nonsensical challenges and dangerous competitions mount, Crouch balances the tone of the first-person narration between sardonic and hopeful, mirroring Gregor's increasing confusion at the chaos around him. The summer camp setting means that Crouch has an array of secondary characters to distinguish individually by tone and accent. One standout is teen celebrity Ashley Woodstone's perfect blend of enthusiastic absurdism and genuine friendliness. Goldy Moldavsky's story requires a total suspension of disbelief, and Michael Crouch's performance makes that a pleasure.
(Fiction. 14-16)Pub Date: May 30, 2017
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781338159790
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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