Narrator Sunny Lu returns for the indomitable Mia Tang's fifth adventure. This time the 13-year-old goes to San Francisco for a winter-break journalism camp at a big-city newspaper. She, her mom, and her friends stay in Chinatown, embedding Mia and listeners in its rich history. Her racist editors have no interest in it, but, of course, Mia finds a way to make her voice heard. Once again, Lu confidently embodies Mia's can-do spirit even as she creates distinct secondary characters. Alas, she must also navigate frequent exposition on Asian American and Indigenous history, which is conveyed by Mia's new friends, a girl born in Chinatown and fellow campers who are Japanese American and Muwekma Ohlone. Listeners will soak up the information, but they may wish it had been delivered more naturally.
Ages 8+Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
Duration: 6 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781339045306
Publisher: Scholastic Audiobooks
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In this fascinating coming-of-age portrait, Thomas Black Bull's journey from the child, Bear's Brother, to the fearsome rodeo rider, Killer Tom Black, is painted with compassion and insight. Forced to learn the White Man's ways, Tom reaches adulthood consumed by rage. Read with great vigor by Norman Dietz, the recording bursts with the energy of rodeo circuit and transports the listener to the southwest. The accurate portrayal of Tom's Ute ancestry and way of life, the sorrow and frustration of losing his heritage, and his angry retaliation at the world make this an excellent listening choice for adults and teenagers. It would also be a wonderful addition to high school units on the Native American experience.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 10 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
George S. Irving adopts Patrick McManus's characters with gusto. Sit back and listen to yarn after yarn. Irving relishes each story, whether it's fishing stories, such as "Claw of the Sea-Puss" or "To Filet or Not to Filet," or the escapades with McManus's wary but vulnerable neighbors. Irving has the jocular chuckle down pat, and the low comedy satire comes off without a hitch. Listeners can imagine Irving tipping back a chair at the country store swapping lies with cronies and entertaining any comers with these hilarious tales. His repertoire of more than eight collections of McManus stories encourages this kind of ownership!
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: DH Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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