In 1947 postwar New York, when the Dodgers are still in Brooklyn, Evie Spooner appears to have an idyllic life. That all changes when her family takes an extended trip to Palm Beach, where a boating accident ends in a tragic death. Caitlin Greer paces the story perfectly, drawing out each scene, pulling each character into the drama. Each story line is given equal emphasis, so the listener doesn't see how all the pieces fit together until the end. When Evie's mother and stepfather are suspected of murder, Evie takes it upon herself to sort out the conflicting stories and lies to reach her own truth. An interview with the author gives insights into how Blundell came to write this story.
Young AdultPub Date: Oct. 1, 2009
Duration: 6 hrs, 15 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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