Octogenarian Veronica is living an isolated life in Scotland with her kind housekeeper, Eileen, her sole companion. After watching a television program about penguins, Veronica impulsively decides to travel to a research facility in Antarctica. With shifts in inflection and more than a hint of exasperation in her tone, narrator Helen Lloyd superbly creates a vibrant portrayal of Veronica, who never refrains from sharing her strong opinions. Veronica also learns that she has a grandson, Patrick, whose existence she was previously unaware of. Andrew Fallaize expertly captures the evolving maturation of the 20- something young man, who greatly benefits from getting to know his grandmother. Interwoven blog entries from a research scientist, voiced by Mandy Williams, keep this whimsical and poignant audiobook grounded. M.J. 2021 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
Pub Date: June 16, 2020
Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593214855
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Three strong women fight for every voice to be heard.
Fein’s novel, inspired by the encrypted Voynich Manuscript, introduces three women and a 400-year struggle to free women’s voices and fight censorship. Emma Feeney narrates as Lysbette, a young orphan in the 1520s. Feeney’s voice grows in power as Lysbette slowly gains confidence in her value, writes her story as myth, and struggles to ensure it outlives her. Ell Potter is the confident, feisty Charlotte, owner of a printshop dedicated to fighting censorship in 1550s Paris. When Lysbette enters her shop, Charlotte faces her biggest challenge. Fast-forward to 1952. Fiona Hardingham gives Milly a frustrated yet insistent voice as Lysbette’s manuscript gives her a new mission, using skills sharpened as a codebreaker in wartime England.
Three strong women fight for every voice to be heard.
Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063411449
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: March 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
A resonant listening experience rich with biting social commentary.
Narrator Katharine Chin elevates this contemporary coming-of-age story featuring four Asian American friends. Diana, Justin, Errol, and Vivian all attended great schools and earned good grades, but in the aftermath of graduating into the Great Recession of 2008, they find themselves unemployed and living at home. Grace, a former classmate, makes a YouTube video about the group and their failure to meet expectations called “Bad Asians.” The video goes viral, upending their lives in the early days of the internet. Chin brings each character distinctly to life through subtle tonal shifts. Her reflective tone conveys the story’s thought-provoking exploration of identity, cultural expectations, and the meaning of success.
A resonant listening experience rich with biting social commentary.Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250433244
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 10, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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