Narrator Soneela Nankani creates a believable portrayal of a biracial Jewish-Indian girl who is grappling with dyslexia. Though she's intelligent and creative, 11-year-old Maple Mehta-Cohen has successfully hidden her inability to read from everyone. But her teacher finally notices and recommends that Maple repeat fifth grade. Nankani sympathetically portrays Maple's shame as she lies to her new fifth-grade classmates and continues trying to hide her reading difficulties. Nankani creates distinct voices for the adults and kids in Maple's life, conveying the kind concern of teachers, the open friendliness of classmates, and the snooty disregard of sixth-grade former friends. Listeners will relate to Maple's struggles with self-esteem as she comes to terms with her learning difference.
(Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 12, 2021
Duration: 5 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781713587934
Publisher: Brilliance Audio/ Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Live Oak Media recently caught our attention with this new read-along book and cassette program. We listened first, and were so delighted we couldn't wait to get the book. The picture book made the experience even better, but the audio recordings was strong and vibrant by itself. THE GARDENER, Sarah Stewart's Depression-era story of a young girl sent to live with her Uncle Jim in the city has a sweet, wistful quality with narration alone, but coupled with David Small's soft-edged pencil illustration, it's a total delight. The reading is repeated on both sides of the tape, one with and without page-turning signals.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: N/A
Publisher: Live Oak Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Mirai's renderings of Kestrel, her family, and fellow workers at the institute thoughtfully depict the protagonists' growth.
Kestrel and her mother leave the home in California they share with Kestrel's grandfather, a pastor, to stay at a wildlife conservation institute in Montana. Narrator Mirai's youthful voice is a natural fit for this story of a young girl who at first resents being tricked into leaving California, but who later comes to realize that moving away from their strict home life was the right choice. Mirai employs distinctive voices for the adults, like Kestrel's stern grandfather and her uncertain mother, who begins gaining confidence. An author's note at the end discusses emotional abuse and how to find help.
Mirai's renderings of Kestrel, her family, and fellow workers at the institute thoughtfully depict the protagonists' growth. (Verse fiction. 9-14)Pub Date: May 26, 2026
Duration: 2 hrs, 42 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668175507
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2026
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