In 2015, the picture book I AM JAZZ, by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, about a transgender girl, was No. 3 on the American Library Association’s Top Ten Banned Books. Now Jazz Jennings gives voice to her story in a new way by narrating what she calls her memoir on growing up transgender. Jennings’s youthful enthusiasm and her acute memories of the difficulties posed by being different from most of her peers make her the perfect choice for telling her own story. She reads quickly, with the familiar cadence and inflection of a teenager, and her story gives new insight into the current conversation on transgender issues.
(Nonfiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: June 7, 2016
Duration: 4 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780735207431
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A fun return to a YA classic.
In Emma Love’s capable hands, Tris Prior is back in this alternative story set in the dystopic world of Divergent. Tris’ world comprises five factions representing archetypal human qualities. But during this Choosing Ceremony, rather than jumping to Dauntless, Tris chooses to stay in her home faction of Abnegation. Neither storyline can keep her away from Four, the gruff Dauntless boy. With Caleb idolizing the leader of Erudite and Four grappling with family demons, Tris must uncover the deadly secrets behind the faction system before it’s too late. Love showcases Tris’ hard-fought determination, and Max Meyers lends much-needed emotion to Four’s cold exterior. In Caleb, Charlie Thurston expertly combines intellectualism with naïveté. While the plot is clunky at times, this narration trio makes for an entertaining listen.
A fun return to a YA classic. (Dystopian. 13-18)Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2026
Duration: 16 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780063462571
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Nov. 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2027
An effervescently fresh spin on Dirty Dancing that will resonate with modern teens.
Katherine, who likes being called Kat and hates her childhood nickname, Kitty, reluctantly agrees to spend the summer engaging in family bonding time at Camp Ochoa in Southern California. After stumbling upon a staff party where teen dance instructors Jordan and Toni are showing off their moves, Kat impulsively volunteers to learn the routine so that Jordan can audition for a dance scholarship when Toni isn’t available. Guillory’s Kat is funny and relatable, alternately brimming with confidence and self-doubt. Her heart is still tender from quitting ballet two years earlier amidst intense scrutiny and body-shaming, but Kat’s joy in the freedom of hip-hop dance rings through the voice Guillory crafts for her.
An effervescently fresh spin on Dirty Dancing that will resonate with modern teens. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2026
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798225081423
Publisher: Scholastic Audio
Review Posted Online: Nov. 10, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2027
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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