Penderwick fans will be saddened yet satisfied by Susan Denaker's narration of the series' final book. The crispness of her narration conveys the old-fashioned feeling of the close-knit family's reminiscences. All the siblings and many other characters return, but the focus is primarily on 11-year-old Lydia, the youngest. She is a first-time visitor at Arundel, the estate in the Berkshires that nurtured her four sisters, and is preparing for the double wedding of her oldest siblings. Having heard Arundel's lore for years, Lydia finds adventures, camaraderie, and imaginative possibilities that surpass her expectations. These continue the type of stories devoted Penderwick listeners have grown to love. Denaker's verve expresses the delight Lydia and her siblings find in even the smallest events.
(Fiction. 9-12)Pub Date: May 15, 2018
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780525595588
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Live Oak Media recently caught our attention with this new read-along book and cassette program. We listened first, and were so delighted we couldn't wait to get the book. The picture book made the experience even better, but the audio recordings was strong and vibrant by itself. THE GARDENER, Sarah Stewart's Depression-era story of a young girl sent to live with her Uncle Jim in the city has a sweet, wistful quality with narration alone, but coupled with David Small's soft-edged pencil illustration, it's a total delight. The reading is repeated on both sides of the tape, one with and without page-turning signals.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: N/A
Publisher: Live Oak Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Mirai's renderings of Kestrel, her family, and fellow workers at the institute thoughtfully depict the protagonists' growth.
Kestrel and her mother leave the home in California they share with Kestrel's grandfather, a pastor, to stay at a wildlife conservation institute in Montana. Narrator Mirai's youthful voice is a natural fit for this story of a young girl who at first resents being tricked into leaving California, but who later comes to realize that moving away from their strict home life was the right choice. Mirai employs distinctive voices for the adults, like Kestrel's stern grandfather and her uncertain mother, who begins gaining confidence. An author's note at the end discusses emotional abuse and how to find help.
Mirai's renderings of Kestrel, her family, and fellow workers at the institute thoughtfully depict the protagonists' growth. (Verse fiction. 9-14)Pub Date: May 26, 2026
Duration: 2 hrs, 42 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668175507
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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