Phoebe Strole's youthful, upbeat voice conveys the cheerful spirit of seventh grader Sweet Pea as she narrates YA author Murphy's humorous story for younger listeners. Sweet Pea takes her parents' divorce in stride, accepts her imperfect body and her father's gayness, and recovers from the mortification of having vomited all over her classmates at a trampoline party. Strole expresses both her normalcy and her uncertainty, creating a relatable, engaging character. Gradually, however, Strole shows Sweet Pea's good humor eroding by her lack of success at juggling friendships and her growing awareness that her father is keeping secrets and her mother is dating. While Strole's Texas accent can sometimes be distracting, she offers a marvelous portrayal of Sweet Pea when she assumes the identity of the eccentric secret advice columnist Miss Flora Mae.
. (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2019
Duration: 6 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780062965202
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Arserio perfectly captures Hafsa’s boldness as she fights for herself and others.
Narrator Shiromi Arserio establishes a determined voice for Hafsa, a Pakistani village girl who longs to attend a summer science camp focused on medicine in the city to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. At first, her parents firmly reject the idea, but after her sister’s husband insists that Hafsa could stay with them, her father relents. Arserio beautifully portrays Hafsa’s disappointment when she learns that the camp’s topic is climate change instead of medicine, and her resilience when she makes the most of it anyway. When Hafsa takes up the cause of finding a new home with better conditions for an elephant at the local zoo, Arserio’s energetic narration brings the story to life.
Arserio perfectly captures Hafsa’s boldness as she fights for herself and others. (Fiction. 9-13)Pub Date: March 10, 2026
Duration: 4 hrs, 24 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217280414
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: April 7, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2026
A heartfelt audiobook for the entire family to enjoy.
With a youthful voice, Jeff Ebner brings much emotion to this realistic middle-grade novel. Ten-year-old Nathan Savage is consumed with worry that the gigantic pile of trash across the street from his home is about to collapse. He’s even more worried that his father, who works at the top of said pile, is in extreme danger. It’s up to Nathan to devise a flawless plan to save the day. Ebner’s fast-paced, energetic narration moves the action along, engaging young listeners to the very last word.
A heartfelt audiobook for the entire family to enjoy. (Fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: March 10, 2026
Duration: 4 hrs, 55 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217280445
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: April 1, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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