Narrator Chrystal Bethell's youthful voice and light Caribbean accent set the tone for this contemporary story of teenage Indira, who tries to overcome the burdens of poverty and a broken family. When Indy's grandmother sends her to Nassau to finish school, she thought she was providing the girl with shelter and opportunity. Instead, Indy faces disdain from her aunt and worse from her older male cousin. Bethell delivers the island English respectfully, giving each character a distinct voice and beautifully executing Indy's initial emotional isolation and gradual discovery of her inner strength. When Indy's thoughts flow into free verse, Bethell transitions smoothly at perfect tempo. The story's difficult themes are offset by the calming effects of Indy's discovery of yoga and the assurance that refuge and support are within reach.
(Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 10, 2018
Duration: 9 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: Dreamscape
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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