When Vince Luka tells folks his father is in the vending machine business, he’s not talking soda cans. Luka Senior is a kingpin of the Mob. Max Casella shoots Korman’s words out as fast as a machine gun, and the speed is dead-on for this breezy, dark comedy. He gives Vince the right balance of frustration and heart as the high schooler tries explaining to Dad that his future is uncertain but one thing is “fuh shore--I’m not goin’ inta da bizness.” Vince may not want any part of it, but things get, well, complicated. SON OF THE MOB is like “The Sopranos” for a slightly younger audience. Casella has worked on the hit show, and he brings his talent for portraying mobsters to this fine recording of Korman’s latest teen title.
Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2002
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780807209721
Publisher: Listening Library
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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