Narrator Ron Keith is the consummate match for Lawrence's spectacular sequel to The Wreckers. His versatile repertoire of accents supports the array of characters involved with an intricate plot. The intrigue builds as the unsuspecting young John Spencer sails forth on his father's new ship, The Dragon, from Kent to London with a load of wool, accompanied by a band of smugglers. John's life appears to be threatened at every turn by the captain and his crew of scalawags; Keith brings all the memorable characters to life--from the menacing Captain Crowe; to the fool-hardy highwayman and faint-hearted sailor, Dasher, in his coat of corks; to the blind innkeeper, Mrs. Pye, who cares only for the return of her beloved, the quirky Fleming. Rousing adventure for middle-grade and young adult listeners.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2000
Duration: 5 hrs, 45 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
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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