This atmospheric work of historical fiction and magical realism takes place in nineteenth-century London. Narrator Sarah Coomes creates a variety of voices for the chimney sweeps--Cockney climbing kids who are the featured characters. Listeners meet Nan Sparrow, the legendary climber; a malevolent master; a soft-spoken Jewish immigrant; a gentle chimney sweep; and Charlie--Nan's "monster." Nan's smart, lucky, and as fierce as she needs to be to survive as an indentured child laborer in the dangerous soot-filled chimneys. Mysteriously abandoned by the kindly sweep who once cared for her, she has only a small piece of char by which to remember him. Coomes's monster's squeaky voice is jarring at first, but listeners will quickly discover that it fits his kind and childlike personality. Coomes's voice and Auxier's prose combine to create an immersive experience.
(Historical fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2018
Duration: 8 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: Audible, Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Nayeri has done a stellar job of adapting his own unique work to the audiobook format.
Nayeri narrates this hero’s journey from Nothing to purpose. Ing (short for Nothing) heeds the advice of his friend, Nana, and sets out with his dog, Pöppy, and the wise mouse, mOmO, to find his name, parents, and purpose. Among Ing’s adventures, he traverses the Land of the Dead and aids the questing Wander Prince. Background music and sounds, like Pöppy’s bell ringing and echo effects in the Land of the Dead, stand in for the artistically arrayed text of the print version. Nayeri’s narration is crisp and matter of fact, presenting sorrow, joy, and even death with a reassuring pragmatism. The exception is his characterization of Pöppy as joyfully silly and distracted.
Nayeri has done a stellar job of adapting his own unique work to the audiobook format. (Adventure. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 27, 2026
Duration: 1 hr, 47 mins
DD ISBN: 9781628864595
Publisher: Sourcebooks Audio
Review Posted Online: Nov. 11, 2026
Arsenault’s passionate performance brings this alternative world to life.
Fourteen-year-old Tessa lives in a dystopian world with a leader who has banned books and taken away the personal liberties of its citizens. Elise Arsenault establishes a steady pace with her narration. When an older neighbor is taken to elder care, Tessa finds a box of forbidden books in her house that changes everything. Arsenault captures Tessa’s tumultuous emotions as she learns about the past and discovers that her long-lost twin brother, Theo, who disappeared years ago, may still be alive. Fans of Lowry’s The Giver will be intrigued by this world, one that feels frighteningly plausible.
Arsenault’s passionate performance brings this alternative world to life. (Dystopian. 9-12)Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs, 49 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063515130
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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