Jayne Entwistle narrated Bradley’s earlier book, THE WAR THAT SAVED MY LIFE. Her narration of the sequel cements the books’ connection. Entwistle recognizes the characters’ complexities, particularly Ada’s. Ada, the heroine, has survived living with a clubfoot and her Mam’s cruelty—now comes her healing. Entwistle gives a layered portrayal of Ada’s strength and distrust, showing her need for intellectual and emotional growth. Fortunately, Ada is now surrounded by characters who care about her in rural England. Each is complex, and all face emotional struggles as WWII continues. Entwistle presents their subtleties, and Ada’s dawning perceptions of them. Gradually and believably, Entwistle shows Ada’s courage as she takes risks that broaden her experiences and elicit her compassion. The poignancy of the story is stunning, as are the author’s wit and eloquence. Entwistle captures both.
(Historical fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: Oct. 3, 2017
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780525493624
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Arserio perfectly captures Hafsa’s boldness as she fights for herself and others.
Narrator Shiromi Arserio establishes a determined voice for Hafsa, a Pakistani village girl who longs to attend a summer science camp focused on medicine in the city to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. At first, her parents firmly reject the idea, but after her sister’s husband insists that Hafsa could stay with them, her father relents. Arserio beautifully portrays Hafsa’s disappointment when she learns that the camp’s topic is climate change instead of medicine, and her resilience when she makes the most of it anyway. When Hafsa takes up the cause of finding a new home with better conditions for an elephant at the local zoo, Arserio’s energetic narration brings the story to life.
Arserio perfectly captures Hafsa’s boldness as she fights for herself and others. (Fiction. 9-13)Pub Date: March 10, 2026
Duration: 4 hrs, 24 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217280414
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: April 7, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2026
A heartfelt audiobook for the entire family to enjoy.
With a youthful voice, Jeff Ebner brings much emotion to this realistic middle-grade novel. Ten-year-old Nathan Savage is consumed with worry that the gigantic pile of trash across the street from his home is about to collapse. He’s even more worried that his father, who works at the top of said pile, is in extreme danger. It’s up to Nathan to devise a flawless plan to save the day. Ebner’s fast-paced, energetic narration moves the action along, engaging young listeners to the very last word.
A heartfelt audiobook for the entire family to enjoy. (Fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: March 10, 2026
Duration: 4 hrs, 55 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217280445
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: April 1, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
