Growing up means growing apart for entangled twins Jake and Lily. As Spinelli’s story recounts the twins’ quarrels and reconciliations, narrators Cassandra Morris and Jesse Bernstein perfectly capture the pair’s peevishness and angst, as well as their magical connections. Lily is convinced they’ll always finish each other’s sentences and be the “never-lost” twins. She’s devastated when Jake rides off with the neighborhood bully, Bump Stubbins, and his gang of bicycle-riding “death rays” to taunt nerdy “supergoobers.” Morris and Bernstein capture the boorish Bump, his pals and victims, and the twins’ parents with as much humor and empathy as Spinelli supplies. A maturing Jake emerges as does an indomitable Lily, who grows from whiner to winner as she uses her nascent forensic skills to great advantage.
(Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2012
Duration: 5 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780062226181
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A fresh, dynamic interpretation of Woodson's poetry.
Woodson originally narrated her memoir in 2014, and this updated production features a lively chorus of voices, a new bonus chapter, and testimonies about the legacy of Brown Girl Dreaming. The audiobook opens with spare guitar music, and Woodson narrates her new, emotion-filled introduction. The chorus—Denée Benton, Marley Dias, Dominique Fishback, Big Freedia, Montego Glover, Nicole Ari Parker, Tika Sumpter, and Lena Waithe—then jumps in, each contributor delivering one poem and passing the mic to another voice for the next. The variety of voices adds a little spice, as their narration styles are very different from one another. Snappy musical interludes by Toshi Reagon feature before each section.
A fresh, dynamic interpretation of Woodson's poetry. (Memoir/poetry. 8-12)Pub Date: May 12, 2026
Duration: 4 hrs, 11 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217175611
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: May 22, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: tomorrow
Devon warmly depicts a quirky and loving family with his engaging performance.
Narrator Chris Devon returns for a bravura performance of this sweet, silly, and poignant second installment in Wood’s series. Seagull Gully and badger Septimus are busy raising their three chicks, and an already hectic household becomes that much more chaotic when a group of forest badgers comes for an extended visit. They want to dig a den where?! With his British accent and excellent pronunciation of Italian words, Devon immerses listeners in their various adventures and misadventures and conjures the many delights of the seaside town where they live. Gully’s dialogue consists exclusively of “Caw,” and Devon injects impressive variation and emotion into each utterance.
Devon warmly depicts a quirky and loving family with his engaging performance. (Fiction. 7-10)Pub Date: May 5, 2026
Duration: 2 hrs, 52 mins
DD ISBN: 9798349115998
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: today
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2026
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