Kristen DiMercurio charms listeners with her narration of this light, campy coming-of-age story. Mary has been a perfect student her whole life but has always wondered if she's missed out on anything in not ever having rebelled. She starts small by not turning in her assignments, skipping classes, and trying to hook up with a slacker ex-boyfriend. Little does she know that he has changed, and he turns her whole plan sideways. DiMercurio's narration is straightforward. Mary is depicted as a blunt, brusque teenager who is bitter about her predictable life. Amused listeners will find Mary's constant stumbling in her sophomoric plan quite silly. Every scene is episodic and includes a cast of encouraging friends and suspicious teachers. DiMercurio gives a humorous and engaging performance.
(Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 16, 2021
Duration: 5 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593416631
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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