Nicola Barber narrates as teenager Wren struggles to survive in her dystopian world. Though Barber sounds a little young for the 16-year-old protagonist, her high pitch and use of pauses convey fear, confusion, and wonder as Wren and her friends navigate the world outside the dome, learning vital skills from their new American friends. High sound quality highlights Barber's smooth performance as she transitions between the various characters, giving each distinct voices and accents, with modulated tones that easily differentiate the males and females. Her clear, rapid reading heightens the urgency of the action scenes, and her intonations effectively communicate moments of teen awkwardness with the opposite sex. At the end, her delivery smoothes over the story's dramatic but somewhat abrupt closing.
. (Steampunk. 14-16)Pub Date: July 23, 2013
Duration: 9 hrs, 45 mins
Publisher: AudioGo
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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