Caitlin Kinnunen's pitch-perfect narration is not enough to elevate this YA romance beyond lackluster, though it will surely help keep listeners engaged. When Quinn's girlfriend dumps her, she's determined not to let it ruin her senior year. But as she gets closer to a new crush, she finds herself spending more time thinking about her old love than her new fling. Kinnunen's narration captures all the ups and downs of teenage love; her voice is the perfect embodiment of a teeanger going through a breakup. Sadly, Quinn's character is without much emotional complexity. And though Kinnunen's first-person narration is excellent, she doesn't change her voice at all when portraying the many supporting characters. This makes the dialogue confusing and only adds to the book's one-dimensional feel.
(Fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: April 7, 2020
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780593169155
Publisher: Listening Library
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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