In Volume One of the Ascendance Trilogy, Charlie McWade enacts the sometimes brutal transformation of Sage from roast-stealing teen orphan to prince and ruler of Carthya. McWade’s haughty tones for the ambitious regent Bevin Conner, who grooms the young orphan, contrast well with his thuggish portrayal of Conner’s creepy underling and with his depiction of the working-class Mrs. Trubeldy, of the orphanage. But when Sage is told to drop his foreign accent and sound like Carthian royalty, McWade’s one example is not cohesive, nor does his voice transform with his role. In endeavoring to evoke villainy, he has another regent sounding more like a foreign foe than a longtime royal. Despite these inconsistencies, McWade’s pacing and storytelling are strong and leave listeners awaiting the young king’s next adventures—which are hinted at in an ebullient author interview.
(Adventure. 8-14)Pub Date: April 1, 2012
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 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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