Narrator Kim Mai Guest invites listeners to join Sorrow Lovegood as she returns to her hometown in search of answers about her older sister's mysterious death eight years earlier. Infused with magical, historical, and suspicious elements, the tale of the Lovegood women is impeccably relayed by Guest. While defining Sorrow and other characters with tones of curiosity, suspicion, and malice, Guest simultaneously uses breathy whispers to set the atmosphere of small-town Vermont and the mercurial apple orchard of the story. Her tone shifts from hostile to understanding as long-held family secrets are brought to light. Though the pace of this audiobook seems slow, its vivid descriptions allow listeners to immerse themselves in the Lovegoods' strange history.
(Fiction. 14-adult)Pub Date: Oct. 10, 2017
Duration: 13 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780062689009
Publisher: Harper Audio
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
Nassif gives an emotional voice to survivors of bullying.
Victoria Nassif narrates this story of magic, grief, and racism. Syrian American Jihad Dabbagh enters a private school in her senior year of high school, and she hopes to attend an art school for college. Her name and the hijab she wears make her the target of dangerous bullies. To cope, she draws in a magical sketchbook, telling the story of her deceased mother’s journey from Syria to the U.S. Nassif relates Jihad’s story beautifully, taking her from a shy, introverted teen to a strong Muslim woman willing to call out bullies for their behavior. Her Arabic pronunciations lend authenticity to this story, helping to bring Jihad’s world to life, and she’s equally adept with the pretentious accents of the privileged white students at the academy.
Nassif gives an emotional voice to survivors of bullying. (Fabulism. 14-18)Pub Date: June 2, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 46 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668657515
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2026
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