When fortune deposits Rendi in the Village of the Clear Sky as chore boy at the inn, he is resentful and unfriendly, especially toward Peiyi, the innkeeper’s daughter. No one— not Master Chao nor guest Madame Chang nor old Mr. Shan—seems to share his concern for the moon, missing from the nighttime sky, or his desire to leave the village. As Rendi carries out a quest for himself and the villagers, author Lin interweaves Chinese folktales that ultimately unify the story. Kim Mai Guest narrates with a delicate and ethereal voice that adds depth and mystery to the drama in both the story and the folktales. In character, she demonstrates a repertoire of voices and emotions. In particular, she deepens and slows her voice as Peiyi’s missing brother and elevates and speeds it as argumentative Widow Yang. Best of all, her “Noxious Toad” burps with gusto.
(Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 2, 2012
Duration: 6 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781619691476
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Narrator P.J. Ochlan embraces this spirited novel, documenting 11-year-old Rocco Zaccaro's adventures with such gusto and spunk that you'd swear you'd traveled back in time to 1887. The story begins with Rocco's removal from his home in Italy and his subsequent arrival in New York City, where he is to work as a street musician for his new padrone, Signor Ancarola. Ochlan paints a vivid picture of immigrant life and the trials Rocco undergoes trying to escape the horrible living conditions under his padrone. Capturing the characters' voices perfectly, Ochlan delivers Rocco's animated storytelling, the slang of his newfound gang of pickpockets, and the accents of the city's many immigrants, whether Irish, Scottish, German, English, or Italian. Historical notes, including a pickpocket's glossary, complete this excellent production.
(Historical fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: April 5, 2016
Duration: 7 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780147521477
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
John McDonough tells the oddball story of Prince Roger and his misbegotten quest for self-identity and true love. The story is amusing and at times inspiring as it follows Prince Roger on a three-year sojourn through the Forever Forest and across the Dastardly Divide as he seeks to transcend his clownish nature and find his destined love, Princess Petulia. Younger listeners will be enchanted by the whimsy and fantasy elements of this fairy tale and by McDonough's gentle style, while adults will enjoy Feiffer's tongue-in-cheek writing, metafictional asides, and profound insights about destiny, identity, and living happily ever after.
Ages 8+Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2001
Duration: 4 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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