André Santana's haunting performance makes perfect sense for this audiobook. Its main character, 12-year-old Moon, is Black, nonbinary, and suffering from depression. Santana gives a strong sense of Moon's feelings of isolation in the face of prejudice and misunderstanding. Intense first-person writing reveals their feelings--for Moon hasn't spoken aloud in months. As Moon finds relief in the spirit realm, Santana's dreamy voice deepens and calms as he portrays Wolf, a guide who anchors Moon. Moon seems lost until the end of the story when they discover self-love. The moralizing repetitions in this story may lose some listeners. Those who suffer from mental illness, like Moon, may find comfort. The audiobook ends with an author's note about their youthful struggles with depression and suicidal ideation.
Ages 10+Pub Date: Sept. 6, 2022
Duration: 6 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781338852585
Publisher: Scholastic Audiobooks
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In this fascinating coming-of-age portrait, Thomas Black Bull's journey from the child, Bear's Brother, to the fearsome rodeo rider, Killer Tom Black, is painted with compassion and insight. Forced to learn the White Man's ways, Tom reaches adulthood consumed by rage. Read with great vigor by Norman Dietz, the recording bursts with the energy of rodeo circuit and transports the listener to the southwest. The accurate portrayal of Tom's Ute ancestry and way of life, the sorrow and frustration of losing his heritage, and his angry retaliation at the world make this an excellent listening choice for adults and teenagers. It would also be a wonderful addition to high school units on the Native American experience.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 10 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
George S. Irving adopts Patrick McManus's characters with gusto. Sit back and listen to yarn after yarn. Irving relishes each story, whether it's fishing stories, such as "Claw of the Sea-Puss" or "To Filet or Not to Filet," or the escapades with McManus's wary but vulnerable neighbors. Irving has the jocular chuckle down pat, and the low comedy satire comes off without a hitch. Listeners can imagine Irving tipping back a chair at the country store swapping lies with cronies and entertaining any comers with these hilarious tales. His repertoire of more than eight collections of McManus stories encourages this kind of ownership!
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: DH Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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