A series of bad choices ends in tragedy in this novel. Narrator Reba Buhr's solemn yet heartfelt narration guides listeners back and forth through time as a teenaged Emily stands trial for causing a young family's death. Buhr's narration captures the building pressure Emily feels as she moves through the contentious trial. Buhr's voice has a weariness to it that works well to depict Emily's overburdened and economically depressed community, especially her loving mother, who always seems to have a drink in hand. Buhr goes all in during the heartbreaking trial, most notably when Hannah--a reckless teen who puts peer pressure on Emily--takes the stand. Buhr's narration expresses the despair and grief Emily and her community face because of one fatal mistake.
(Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2023
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780744306934
Publisher: CamCat Books
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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