Matt Haver forthrightly narrates this audiobook about a preteen who is navigating upheaval in his family due to addiction. When Reese's dad is sober, he's charming and easy to be around--but eventually the pain pills are too tempting for his father to resist. After Reese has to call emergency services to save him from another overdose, his mom moves them out of their apartment until his dad agrees to get help. Haver's portrayal of Reese is raw and authentic, capturing both his natural sweetness and his stubborn refusal to face the likely end of the life he's always known. Haver uses the subtle twang of rural North Carolina in just the right amount for these characters.
(Fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: June 18, 2024
Duration: 6 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668641538
Publisher: Hachette Audio
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 18, 2026
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