Isabel (Belly) revels in summer. For as long as she can remember, her family has spent the summer at the beach with her mom’s friend, Susannah, and her two sons, Conrad and Jeremiah. Belly is convinced that this summer, the summer of her sixteenth birthday, will be the best yet. Jessica Almasy is convincing as the naïve Belly. The angst and insecurity embedded in Belly’s character resonate in Almasy’s voice as she catches us up on summers past through a series of flashbacks. As we learn of past crushes and kisses, Belly stumbles through the complexities of her current feelings for both Conrad and Jeremiah. Then there’s a bigger challenge for the families to face as the summer draws to a close.
Young AdultPub Date: Jan. 22, 2009
Duration: 7 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
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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