Glennora enjoys science and invention in the regimented Colloquium society (Earth, circa 2023) but discovers another world just outside her door. Purported to be an apocalyptic wasteland, the Magisterium is the opposite of the Colloquium. There, magic, not science, reigns. Glenn enters the Magisterium and discovers she, too, possesses magical powers that must be controlled. Julia Whelan presents a polished narration with distinct character voices. Her male characters are as authentic as her female voices, and dialogue is consistently clear. Whelan dramatically conveys an action-packed story that will keep listeners engaged; in particular, her smooth reading helps even out an inconsistent plot and an abrupt ending. Whelan deftly maintains the story’s intriguing premise in her appealing performance.
(Fantasy. 12-14)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2012
Duration: 9 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: Scholastic Audiobooks
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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