Alternating narrators MW Cartozian Wilson and Kirby Heyborne capture the struggles of two middle school students who are trying to settle into their authentic identities. Daniel is a sensitive eighth grader who tries but fails to fit the masculine mold people expect. Ash is a gender-fluid seventh grader who presents as a girl. When they become friends, they start to develop romantic feelings, but Daniel doesn't know that Ash vacillates between "girl mode" and "guy mode." Heyborne shines in his nuanced portrayal of Daniel's emotions, conveying hope, compassion, and sorrow with heartbreaking realism. Wilson's gender-neutral portrayal of Ash does not change even as Ash's gender identity does, reflecting the important theme in the story that one's gender does not change who they are on the inside.
(Fiction. 10-13)Pub Date: 2021
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780063053922
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Complete with creative production touches, the result is a dark, satisfying listen.
Listeners don't just experience a fascinating historical drama--they also become steeped in a bloody gothic Western. Stellar performances are the center of this compelling listening experience. Narrator Marin Ireland fully embodies the beleaguered humanities professor who, while deep diving into the campus archive, discovers the story of her ancestors. At the same time, she is struggling with her tenure committee. In a deft transition back to 1912, Owen Teale's performance of a Lutheran pastor exhibits gravitas as he slowly unwinds the secrets of his relationship with Good Stab, a Blackfeet Indian who mysteriously appears in his congregation. Shane Ghostkeeper provides Good Stab with a subtle yet ferocious performance as the two face each other's buried truths.
Complete with creative production touches, the result is a dark, satisfying listen.Pub Date: N/A
Duration: N/A
DD ISBN: 9781234567890
Publisher: Troy's Publishing Company for Vicky Test
Review Posted Online: Feb. 4, 2026
Narrator Sunny Lu creates a passionate voice for seventh grader Luna in this coming-of-age realistic fiction. Luna leaves her introverted life behind when she becomes a bibliotherapist for her fellow classmates, recommending books to help them in times of need and eventually writing her own zines with the assistance of her best friend, Scott. Lu perfectly captures Luna's complex emotions as she abandons Scott and joins the popular group. Now rather than writing to help others, she starts to hurt others by writing about their faults and flaws in "fix-its." Listeners will relate to Luna's struggles as she loses her way and will cheer her on in hopes that she finds her way back.
(Fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: 2026
Duration: 6 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798217081578
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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